Maria (Marika) Medynsky

“A beautiful soul with a beautiful smile. Her sparkling brown eyes and infectious smile will forever be in our hearts.”

Maria (Marika) Medynsky, in her 58th year (born January 11, 1966), passed away peacefully on October 31, 2023, at Victoria Hospital Palliative Care in London, Ontario, surrounded by her loving family.

Predeceased by her beloved father Stefan Medynsky (December 7, 2008). She is survived by her loving mother of 85 years Josephine of London, sister Olya of Kitchener, brothers Andrew (Kim) of London and Mike (Natalie) of Victoria, BC. Cherished aunt of Tamara and aunt/godmother of Matthew both of Kitchener. She is also survived by many cousins in London, Mississauga, USA, Ukraine and Poland.

Marika has been a very brave woman not to mention a strong fighter for the past 8 years, during which she overcame various health issues, including brain tumour, breast cancer and heart condition. But she finally succumbed to complicated cancer. Special thanks to the doctors and nursing staff at Victoria Hospital Cancer Clinic, I.C.U. and Palliative Care, for the compassionate care of Marika in her final moments.

Marika was an educational assistant at the Thames Valley School Board for over 20 years, who touched the lives of so many students and teaching staff. In fact, she was loved so much, that each year she would get requests from staff and parents to come back (mostly at Saunders Secondary School), even before the school year started. She loved her kids so much and would do anything for them, and she developed many deep friendships with her colleagues who shared the same passion.

Marika’s favourite pastimes were doing trips with friends and family, wine tours, reading and cooking. But her biggest passion was hockey! She was a passionate London Knights fan, much to the surprise of her brothers who remember her hating hockey as a child and have no clue where this new passion came from. She had season’s tickets for many many years and would attend any game she could, whether it be at Budweiser Gardens or at home watching on tv. In general, she just loved being with the people she loved and was a very good soul, as is evidenced by the multitude of friends she has.

Marika's warmth, kindness, spunk, humour and laughter touched the lives of all who had the privilege of knowing her. Her memory will live on in the hearts of her loving family, and the many close friendships she made in her lifetime. She leaves behind a legacy of family and close friends who adored her, and she is an inspiration for us to learn from this wonderful human being.

Visitors will be received from 5:30 to 7:00 p.m. on Thursday, November 2nd, 2023, in the O'Neil Funeral Home, 350 William Street, London.   Panachyda (Prayers) in the chapel at 6:30 p.m.

Interment will take place at 9:30 am. on Saturday, November 4th, 2023, in St. Peter's Cemetery, London.

The Memorial Mass will take place at 10:30 a.m on on Saturday, November 4th in Christ the King Ukrainian Catholic Church,  707 Nelson St, London, followed by luncheon in the church basement.  

Online condolences may be made at www.oneilfuneralhome.ca

Memorial Donations

Help Us Help at the following link: https://helpushelp.charity/donate. This charity provides assistance with relocation of children, scholars, and veteran families, as well as humanitarian and medical assistance for victims of the war. It is legitimate as the family is connected to the Toronto Ukrainian community and personally knows the organizers. Given Marika was devoted to her Ukrainian background and to her students – her children, the family feels that a charity that helps children is a wonderful way to honour Marika’s life.

 London Health Sciences Foundation (LHSF) at the following link: https://lhsf.donordrive.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=donate.event&eventID=1. This foundation supports cancer care. Marika received healthcare for many of her illnesses at various hospitals in London, but all her cancer treatments were with the London Regional Cancer Program at Victoria Hospital, which is part of LHSF.

Rest in peace, our dearest Marika, as your love and legacy endure in our hearts.