This grave marker is very difficult to make out. The photograph I post here has red marks where I have traced letters as best as possible for the time being. I believe that the surname on this marker may be Wachna, but currently cannot be certain.

The lettering on this marker was unevenly scratched into the cement. There are appears to be small letters under the larger letters, which may be the initial scratches from which to enter the larger, they may be from family at the time of the death--scratched in memory of the loved one, they might be from pranksters as a joke, or what looks like letters just might be only more cement cracks. In the upper right is a cross. The next two or three lines I believe gives the standard wording in Ukrainian language on graves: Here rests....

I am making this photograph as large as possible.

 

A close up of the area where the name should be.

 

 

Holy Ghost Ukrainian Catholic Cemetary

Plankey Plains, Manitoba, Canada

BODZ

BODZ
Blessed rest.
 

 

CHERWATY Holy Ghost Ukrainian Catholic Cemetery Plankey Plains Manitoba

Holy Ghost Ukrainian Catholic Cemetery

Plankey Plains Manitoba

Cherwaty

Cherwaty: John and Mary

 

SAMBORSKI Holy Ghost Ukrainian Catholic Cemetary Plankey Plains Manitoba

SAMBORSKI

Samborski
John 1896-1970
Barbara 1895-1977
Rest in Peace.

Samborski: In loving memory of
Husband, Father and Grandfather: Paul 1913 - 2001
Wife, Mother, and Grandmother: - 1980
Rest in peace.

 

Holy Ghost Ukrainian Catholic Cemetery Plankey Plains Manitoba Canada

Holy Ghost Ukrainian Catholic Cemetery

Plankey Plains, Manitoba Canada

Here is one of the more fortunate of the unfortunate grave markers in the Plankey Plains Cemetery.  There are families, though, who have replaced the markers like this and far worse with new ones, many keeping the long rectangular concrete slab that lies flat over the grave site.

Perhaps on the next trip to this area I will be able to find out more information, but at this time I will offer what I have.  The grave markers were cast by hand, most likely by a resident who took it upon himself to handle this portion of the church and cemetery business.  In this case, the letters were scratched into the cement, but rather unevenly.  Now, as you can see, there is growth that would need to be removed in order to view the letters better.

My husband and I were told a story by his cousin who went to visit his family's cemetery burial grounds in Southern Minnesota.  Unfortunately for this site, a man had taken it upon himself to clean up the grave markers by washing and soaking them.  He discovered in the end that he had removed all of the names.  Once done, there is no undoing.

Here is the same photograph, printed and then outlined as best as I could with a marker, and what I can glean from what I see thus far.  I see a name, Ivan? Ivanbola?  This person died in [19]22 at the age of 38 years.



POLISCHUK Holy Ghost Ukrainian Catholic Cemetery Plankey Plains Manitoba

POLISCHUK

POLISCHUK
In Loving Memory
Walter March 28, 1937 - January 1, 2008



MATICHUK Holy Ghost Ukrainian Catholic Cemetery Plankey Plains Manitoba

MATICHUK

Matichuk
Father: Onufry June 29, 1890 - August 8, 1966
Mother: Hafia September 16, 1894 - December 13, 1989
Ever remembered.
Ever loved.



ORYSCHAK Holy Ghost Ukrainian Catholic Cemetery Plankey Plains Manitoba

ORYSCHAK

Nicholas Oryschak
December 14, 1898 - March 14, 1951



Oryschak: Dear Mother Katherine
October 14, 1902 - June 21, 1994
Grant her, O Lord, eternal rest

Oryschak: Beloved Son Myron Morris
1915-1932. This marker is difficult to read.
See same marker right below.

 



KOSHMAN FENIUK FENYUK Holy Ghost Ukrainian Catholic Cemetery Plankey Plains Manitoba

Спочивае Стифан Кошман
уп. 1930 р.
прожив 75 ро.
сеи хрест
поставила донька
Маріа Финюк
Вічная память.

This is the grave marker at Holy Cross Ukrainian Catholic Cemetery, Plankey Plains, Manitoba for Stephan Koshman, my great-great grandfather. 

Here lies Stefan Koshman

Died in the year 1930

Lived 75 years

This cross

placed here by his daughter

Maria Feniuk

Memory eternal.

From the memoir of Wasylyna Koshman German (Gorman) as told to Ann Sherman and published in The Carillon News,  April 1974:

In the spring of 1900 Stephan Koshman took a cancelled homestead for $30.00, the farm where the Plankey Plains Ukrainian Catholic Church is now situated, built their home on the south half and moved his family from Kulachkowsky’s.  Their new neighbor was Frank Millar (Fern Horobetz’s Dad) who farmed the place later owned by John Bialkoski.  Mr. Millar was a very good neighbor, he also spoke Ukrainian so that it brought a real closeness between him and the Koshman’s who could not speak any English.

About 1903, men of the surrounding neighborhood held meetings in the homes in regards to choosing a spot for a cemetery.  Men attending included Nick Didychuk, Harry Goy (grandfather of Mrs. Mike Tkachuk), Steve Horbul, S. Koshman, Jack Pawloski, father of Pete Pawloski, Winnipeg, N. Polischuk (Mrs. Cherwaty’s father), Mike Nawolski, Oliksa Tkachuk (Jack’s dad), Dan Horbul, J. Gorman and Sam Gorman (husband of Wasylyna).

Jack Pawloski agreed to donate an acre of land and so did Stephan Koshman, but they soon were to find out that there was a road allowance between the two farms.  The first membership fees were 25 cents and another acre of land was bought from Jack Pawloski where the land was quite a bit higher.



PASKAREK Holy Ghost Ukrainian Catholic Cemetery Plankey Plains Manitoba Canada

ТУТ СП. [СПОЧИВАЄ] АНАСТАЗІЯ ПАСКАРИК
РОД. Р.Б. 1850
УПК. 17.Ц. [ЧЕРВЕНЬ] 1941.Р.
Here rests Anastasia Paskarek (Paskarik)
1850 - 17 June 1941



FOY Holy Ghost Ukrainian Catholic Cemetery Plankey Plains Manitoba

FOY

Lloyd James Foy 1922-1976

Livia Sylvia Foy
January 19, 1930 - June 26, 1990

Nicholas James Foy
December 18, 1953 - March 23, 1985

HORBUL Holy Ghost Ukrainian Catholic Cemetery Plankey Plains

Тут спочиває дорогі мама Василина Горбиль
ур. 1870
уп. 21. 7. 1948.

Here rests dear Mother, Wasylyna Horbul. 1870 - July 21, 1948.

Holy Ghost Ukrainian Catholic Church Site and Cemetery Plankey Plains Ma...

Holy Ghost Ukrainian Catholic Church (site) & Cemetery

Plankey Plains Manitoba Canada

Plainky Plains Manitoba First Hand Account of Its Founding

A good friend and helper to my Great Grandmother Wasylyna Gorman of Stuartburn, Manitoba were Mrs. Anne Sherman and her husband, Alec.

In April of 1974, Mrs. Sherman honored my Grandmother by written down her story and then publishing it in the Carillon News over two issues.  The following selection is from Mrs. Sherman’s work.

Mrs. W. Gorman of Stuartburn is one of these.  She experienced the trek from the Ukraine to the Canadian wilderness in 1899 as a 14-yeard old girl and participated in the settling of a new country.  Today, still in good health despite her 89 years, she lives in her neat cottage in Stuartburn where she still carries her own firewood and water.  Her life story is simply told here by a close friend of Mrs. Gorman’s.  The Carillon’s Stuartburn correspondent, Mrs. A. Sherman.

About 1903, men of the surrounding neighborhood held meetings in the homes in regards to choosing a spot for a cemetery.  Men attending included Nick Didychuk, Harry Goy (grandfather of Mrs. Mike Tkachuk), Steve Horbul, S. Koshman, Jack Pawloski, father of Pete Pawloski, Winnipeg, N. Polischuk (Mrs. Cherwaty’s father), Mike Nawolski, Oliksa Tkachuk (Jack’s dad), Dan Horbul, J. Gorman and Sam Gorman (husband of Wasylyna).

Jack Pawloski agreed to donate an acre of land and so did Stephan Koshman, but they soon were to find out that there was a road allowance between the two farms.  The first membership fees were 25 cents and another acre of land was bought from Jack Pawloski where the land was quite a bit higher.

MATICHUK Holy Ghost Ukrainian Catholic Cemetery Plankey Plains Manitoba

Some grave markers in Holy Ghost Ukrainian Catholic Cemetery as shown by this one of the Matichuk family are cared for and include floral memorials.  Some of the older grave markers have been replaced, and some--especially those with the words scratched into the concrete with whitewash worn off are difficult to read, if readable at all.

MATICHUK

Matichuk In Memory of Our Dear...
Father Onufry Matichuk June 29, 1890 - August 8, 1966
Mother Hafia Matichuk September 16, 1894 - December 13, 1989
Ever Remembered, Ever Loved.

BABYAK Plankey Plains Manitoba Canada

date on grave marker: (1915?) - 1947

Tentative reading: Here rests (Yucip? Yucaipa?) Babyak

HORBUL Holy Ghost Ukrainian Catholic Cemetery Plankey Plains Manitoba

тут спочиває дорогі тато стефан горбуль
У Р 1868
УП. 3.11.1942.
Here rests dear father Stephen Horbul. 1868 - 1942.



TKACHYK Holy Ghost Ukrainian Catholic Cemetery Plankey Plains

фрасина ткачик
Fracyna (Frosyna) Tkachyk
Died 1928.



Plankey Plains Holy Ghost Ukrainian Catholic Cemetery Manitoba The Crosses

The Crosses

Hear the leaves of the trees softly rustle

A background chorus for the solos of the birds.

The captives of the earth listen in hushed silence

As the symphonies of seasons pass by.

I stand among my ancestors and they come to greet me.

The souls who toiled so willingly in life, enduring hardship,

Now rest in wait for the coming day when I shall join them too.

I feel their love and peace permeate my innermost self.

We have this common bond, you see.

For I have the life I do because they gave it to me.

Their toil has given me freedom.

Their hardship has given me strength.

And I remember …

I see Great Grandma standing amidst the tall, undulating grass.

Unashamed, tears drop to the ground beneath.

Quietly she moves among the white painted crosses

Giving a gentle, caressing touch to the ones she loves.

I see Grandmother and Granddaughter look one last time at each other

Imprinting within their minds and hearts

What will have to last until each sees the other again,

Always longing never to be apart.

Now I look within so that I too may imprint in my heart

The visible and unvisible that I see until my return.

For though I stand among the crosses,

What is in my sight

…Are my beloved.

© Mary Katherine May. June 12, 2006

POLISCHUK POLITSIUK Plankey Plains Cemetery Manitoba

Here Rests Maria Politsiuk (Polischuk?)
1945

Here Rests Maria Politsiuk (Polischuk?)
1945

POLISCHUK Holy Ghost Ukrainian Catholic Cemetery Plankey Plains Manitoba

Katrycia (Katherine) Polischuk
Lived 8 months, died 21 April 1945.

Gorman German Heerman Holy Ghost Ukrainian Catholic Cemetery Plankey Plains Manitoba Canada

тут спочивае аксана гирман
Here rests Aksana Gorman (pronounced Heerman)

тут спочивае аксана гирман
Here rests Aksana Gorman (pronounced Heerman

Wasylyna Gorman 1885-1982, Mother
Harry Gorman 1912-1981, Son

Тут спочиває дорогі муж и тато.
Here rests dear husband and father.
СІМНЬОН ГИРМАН - Simeon (Sam) Gorman (Heerman, Hyrman)



Plankey Plains Manitoba Canada Holy Ghost Ukrainian Catholic Church

Holy Ghost Ukrainian Catholic Church Site
Plankey Plains, Manitoba, Canada

Holy Ghost Ukrainian Catholic Church Site
Plankey Plains, Manitoba, Canada
1 Commemorative Sign Location
2 Location of Preserved Original Entry Steps to Church

Holy Ghost Ukrainian Catholic Church Site Commemorative Sign
Plankey Plains, Manitoba, Canada

Plankey Plains Manitoba Canada Holy Ghost Ukrainian Catholic Cemetery

Holy Ghost Ukrainian Catholic Cemetery
Plankey Plains, Manitoba, Canada

Holy Ghost Ukrainian Catholic Cemetery
Plankey Plains, Manitoba, Canada

Directions to Plankey Plains, Manitoba Site: From Highway 59 go West on Highway 201 to Road 28E.  North on 28E to the Plankey Plains Site.

Sunday, July 15, 2012.

True to our form on this trip, we left Winnipeg early morning and headed south for the border, this time the crossing on highway 59.  I wanted to make an attempt to locate the cemetery at Plankey Plains.  Looking around the previous day had jogged my memory to its approximate location.  There is no longer a sign on highway 59 pointing the way east to Stuartburn, Manitoba, but only to another town settled by Ukrainians, Vita.  I remembered that on a previous visit with another cousin we had crossed highway 59 on the road, driving west on highway 201.  The road to Plankey Plains, which is no longer on the road map of Manitoba, is named 28E going north. 

Once arrived we almost missed it.  The west side of the road where Plankey Plains church once stood, and on the last visit where one building remained is now empty except for the sign with grass grown up all around commemorating where the church once stood.  Looking through the grass you will see the entry way steps—the only part of the church still preserved.  Here is where family members, some of whom I knew, were married, baptized, and buried. 

On the east side of the road the cemetery is hidden by trees, the sign peeking out from the tall firs.  I am glad to see that the grass has been clipped.  Some of the old grave markers have been replaced.  In the area where the Gorman plots are located I can see that some are missing, fallen over or decayed from rain and harsh winters, names worn off.  We get out a pencil and try to mark the indentations so that we can read the names, and do some rubbings.  I am moved by my memories, and this is not a bad thing.  The emotions are generated from the love that existed between me and those now gone, and by the loss of those who died in their prime whom I would like to have known.  But now I feel we can leave.  There is more to do, and we are on our way.