Olga Kolisnyk

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Olga Kolisnyk passed away peacefully in her 94th year, on May 21, 2025. Born on April 26, 1931, Olga was the beloved daughter of Mary and John. She grew up in the community of Long Branch alongside her siblings—Mike, Ben, Mary, and Alice—nurturing a strong sense of family, duty, and faith that would shape her life’s journey.

A dedicated and compassionate caregiver, Olga trained as a nurse at St. Michael’s Hospital in Toronto, graduating in 1954. Her passion for service extended far beyond the hospital walls. After completing a lay missionary program in 1958, she spent eight formative years (1963–1971) in Nigeria, West Africa, working with underserved families and communities, bringing healthcare and hope to those in need.

Upon returning to Canada, Olga continued her commitment to public service, working in the field of occupational health. Her intellectual curiosity and concern for the environment led her to pursue and complete a master’s degree in environmental studies in 1986. In her later years she did pastoral work at Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre.

Faith was central to Olga’s life. In 1956, she joined the International Grail Movement, a global network of women committed to social justice, spirituality and community engagement. A devoted member for the rest of her life, Olga turned her focus in later years to the rights and achievements of Indigenous women in Central America, a cause that deeply resonated with her values of justice, dignity, and solidarity.

Olga will be remembered by her nieces and nephews and her countless comrades for her compassion, her strength, her deep faith, and her unwavering commitment to helping others—whether across the world or in her own community.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in her memory to the Ukrainian Canadian Care Centre or in support of humanitarian efforts in Ukraine.