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P io n e e r D ie s From Detroit we received sad news that Anna Bychinsky, who made her home in Ann Arbor, Mich., died on Nov. 3. The late Mrs. Bychinsky was a pioneer and a long-time leader in her community. Born in Laceyville, Pa. in 1887, she learned Ukrain ian at home from a “diak,” whom her father, Alexander Ku. ryla, engaged for that purpose. Her father instilled in her a love of Ukrainian culture and concern for the Ukrainian com munity. When in 1904 a meeting was held in New York for the purpose of organizing Ukrainian women, Anna Kuryla was the main speaker. In 1907 she married Sigmund Bychinsky, a pastor. Of her early married life Anna says: “. our home was open to young stu dents who came from the old country with whom we shared what little we had as long as they needed to stay. Our home was not unlike a public thoroug- fare — a stopping place for the sick, the anguished, the troubled and friends passing through our town. There was no time or strength for creative work.” For Anna was born with a tal ent for painting and creative ex pression. However, “due to per sistent economic struggles in my earlier years, responsibilities for running a home smoothly . . . and aggravating ill health, God’s gift to me . . had to be smoth ered. What writing I did was when I was too sick to be on my feet, so I worked in bed with the typewriter in front of me and pillows propping me up in back. For years I painted with my easel in the kitchen, my pal ette and brushes handy and within reach of the range, sink and cupboards.” Mrs. Bychin sky raised two sons and three daughters, who all now hold leading positions in their fields. When her children were complet ing their University studies, she too enrolled. Since then she painted steadily, exhibiting and “occasionally” selling her work. She also sold short stories to McLean’s Magazine and was working on a novel. However, Anna Bychinsky is best remembered for her com munity work. Even as a young girl, she took pride in helping newcomers; and she gathered neighbors’ children to teach them Ukrainian reading and writing, even as she was being taught. During World War I the Bychinskys moved to Conora, Sask. There the young woman taught school and worked with the young after school hours. Once she was deeply stirred up on seeing a young Ukrainian struck and manhandled by some Canadians who accused him of being a “slacker.” By this time she knew quite a lot of Ukrain ian history, and took pride in the Ukrainian people. In Mrs. Bychinsky’s own words: “Some, thing had to be done. Better re lations had to be and could be established. Ukrainians needed to be represented in their true worth and true light. The people of 18th cent. England lived no differently than the way the Ukrainian pioneers were forced to live. The Ukrainian cause had to be brought before the Cana dian public.” Because she be lieved in the admirable traits of Ukrainians and in the sound judgment of Canadians, Anna Bychinsky took it upon herself to speak on behalf of the Ukrain ian pioneers in Canada. “Oportunity soon arose. I was invited to speak in a large Pres byterian Church in Regina, Sask. At about this time there was a strong feeling that foreigners should assimilate. I could not wholly agree with that. In my long talk to a very receptive au dience I told of the almost insur mountable hardships the Ukrain ian people underwent while con quering the wild prairie . . . I told all I knew of the bitter struggles to make a home on the tough prairies. The indescribable loneliness, the naked needs. Then I changed the picture and told of the great potentialities of Ukrainians pioneers And Painter late Anna Bychinsky again I changed, pointing out with all the tact and diplomacy I had in me of how the Ukrain ian pioneers were exploited. . . Rather than be assimilated the Ukrainians should be encouraged to cherish and hold close to their heart their native traditions, folk songs, their poetry.” This lecture was repeated again and again before varied audiences. The speech was greet ed with applause, and after a lec ture in Winnipeg, Sir James Aikens, Lieutenant General of Canada, complimented Mrs. By chinsky by saying that: “the Ukrainians should be proud and grateful for having such a worn, an, who champions their cause and works for better understand ing.” We are now deeply aware that all the accomplishments of the last decade were made pos sible to a large degree by pio neers like the late Mrs. Anna Bychinsky. MZO FOR SALE Ukrainian colored designs in Albums, Series No. 3 and 4. Price $2.00 each Order from UNWLA’s Headquarters 4936 N. 13th St. Phila, Pa. 19141
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