. Lena was born at her family farm house in the Tarnopol District on August 6, 1915 to Kostantyn and Katherine Hnatiuk. She attended the Tarnopol elementary school, completing her grade 6. In February 1929, she married Steven Solonynko at Bonne Madone, Saskatchewan. Their first home was at old Tarnopol and they later relocated to new Tarnopol where they had a General Store and in 1935, they moved to Tway to begin farming. On December 1, 1948 her husband passed away suddenly and Lena, along with her children continued to farm until 1955. At this time, Lena moved to Windsor, Ontario where she worked as a waitress until 1957. Lena returned to the Yellow Creek area and married Mike Balon on November 2, 1957. They lived in the Yellow Creek vicinity until their retirement in 1980 and then moved to Prince Albert. Lena and Mike remained in their house until moving to a suite at the Good Shepherd Villas in the fall of 2010 when she was 95 years old. Lena was a devoted member to the Ukrainian Orthodox Church and the Ukrainian Women’s Association in Yellow Creek for 50 years. Lena was a hard worker who always was willing to lend a hand to others. She enjoyed berry and mushroom picking, gardening, tending to her beautiful plants and flowers, cooking and spending time with her family. She was a wonderful and devoted wife and mother, who will be missed greatly. Those left to cherish her memory are her husband, Mike; children, Maurice (Wilma) Solonynko, Mary Wojcichowsky, Catherine Solonynko; sister, Margaret Meszaros, 19 grandchildren, 30 great grandchildren, 7 great great grandchildren, and her nieces and nephews. Lena is predeceased by her parents Kostantyn and Katherine; her father and mother-in-law William and Mary Balon, her first husband Steven; two children in infancy, Steven and Orest; son, William (Bernice) Solonynko; daughter, Oksana (Raymond) Wojcichowsky; grandson, Daryl Wojcichowsky, daughter-in-law, Lorraine Solonynko; son-in-law, Isadore Wojcichowsky; siblings, Metro (Mary) Hnatiuk, William (Helen) Hnatiuk, Olga (Bill) Oleksyn , Annie (Carl) Loessl; brother-in-law, Steve Meszaros. The family would like to extend a heartfelt thanks to Pat and the staff at the Good Shepard’s Villa for the excellent care and compassion provided to mom.

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