Bio for Bunny Sklepowich
1938 - 2023
Do you remember Orysia Ewonchuk? If you have some old records in your basement featuring "Mickey and Bunny Sklepowich"..... you will recall Orysia, better known as "Bunny" was born in Rosa, Manitoba in 1938. Along with 3 brothers and 1 sister, Bunny grew up on the farm with her parents Mike and Mary Ewonchuk. Starting out in a country school, Bunny completed her education at Teacher's College. It was during this time she met her musical soul mate Modest Sklepowich, better known as Mickey. Together they were proud parents to their son Mickey Jr., and Baba and Gido to Reed and Quinn.
Bunny was a kind and compassionate person. She was generous to many, creative, intelligent, and independent. She was a sharp dresser, and donned a smile on and off stage.
Her true talent shone through her voice. In 1964 Mickey and Bunny toured across Canada bringing Ukrainian, Polish and German tunes to their audiences. They were well known for their Ukrainian renditions of popular country, pop and "Beetle" tunes. We will all cherish their Ukrainian rendition of "This Land is Your
Land"!
Mickey and Bunny performed at Canada's National Ukrainian Festival many times, participated at charity venues, entertained at weddings and social functions, and appeared for sold out concert
tours.
Already having a teacher's permit, Bunny went on to obtain her Bachelor of Education degree from the University of Manitoba. Bunny's employment with Indian and Northern Affairs lasted well over 20 years. It was during this time that she helped teach and maintain higher standards of English and Math skills to many children. As well, Bunny later worked for the Estates Unit of Indian Affairs where she helped indigenous families to manage their estates and end-of-life legal processes.
Bunny was an active volunteer with Winnipeg's Folklorama, and of course an active and lifetime member of the Ukrainian Musicians Association.
In her latter years, Bunny had the vision with her close friend Linda Shydlowsky, to invent the female duo Met-Telic-Kih. Together these talented Manitoba Ukrainian voices produced 3 Cds with Sunshine Records Studio.
Devotion to her family was evident! Bunny was a wonderful and dedicated Baba to her grandsons, Reed and Quinn. She taught Ukrainian to them, shared her cooking and crafting skills, and attended their piano recitals and sports events.
Bunny will fondly be remembered for her professional stage presence, and her support to keep Ukrainian music alive. Today we can reminisce by listening to the old records that echo her beautiful voice, watching old clips of her on Youtube, and by the induction ceremony today that honors her vast musical contribution and her memory. Bunny Sklepowich...an important figure to Western Canadian Ukrainian music... Vichnya Pamyat!
Click the button below to hear the YouTube Tribute to Bunny from a Polka Power Show!
Make sure you start this Tribute from the beginning.
OBITUARY
Bunny Sklepowich (nee: Orysia Ewonchuk)
The family wishes to announce Bunny’s passing on Saturday, May 27, 2023 at the Holy Family Nursing Home, Winnipeg, MB.
You may know her as Bunny or Elsie. You might know her as Orysia, or Auntie Bunny, or Baba. No matter how you knew her, you were blessed to know a compassionate, generous, creative, funny, intelligent, independent, and talented woman who lived a full life.
Bunny Sklepowich was born Orysia Ewonchuk in Rosa, Manitoba in 1938. She grew up attending a country school and worked on the Ewonchuk farm with her family, parents Mike and Mary Ewonchuk, brothers, Peter, Jerry, and Bob, and sister Evelyn. Orysia attended teacher’s college and met and married Modest Sklepowich in 1955. They welcomed son, Michael-William, affectionately known as Mickey Jr., in 1959. Mickey Jr. later had two sons, Reed, in 1997, and Quinn, in 1998.
Mickey and Bunny, as they were later known, began appearing together on musical stages across Canada in 1964. Their repertoire included Ukrainian, Polish, German songs, and country music with a popular Canadian version of Woody Guthrie’s “This Land Is Your Land”. In the 60’s they were accompanied by the D-Drifters-5, an instrumental group led by the accordionist and bass guitarist Dave Roman, known for their Ukrainian versions of songs by the Beatles and other pop groups of the day. Mickey and Bunny received from His Worship Mayor Stephen Juba his highest award, “The Community Service Award” for their many years of dedicated work, charity performances and their unforgettable concert tours. They recorded music still being played on radio stations in Alberta, Saskatchewan, and Manitoba, and are remembered as major contributors to Canadian folk music and Ukrainian-Canadian culture. Mickey and Bunny can still be seen on YouTube performing during a revival of the group in the 2000s during which they played at the Ukrainian Festival in Dauphin, Manitoba and numerous other venues and events.
Bunny went on to obtain her bachelor’s degree in education from the University of Manitoba and worked for Indian and Northern Affairs for more than twenty years. In this career, Bunny helped children in Northern Manitoba communities to develop literacy and math skills. She later worked for the Estates unit of Indian Affairs, where she helped aboriginal families to manage their estates and end-of-life legal processes. Bunny also supported many community organizations including the Ukrainian Musicians Association and Folklorama.
Bunny was a faithful and devoted Baba to grandsons, Reed, and Quinn, who are now 26 and 25, respectively. They spent time at her home in East Kildonan cooking together, doing crafts, learning to read, and playing exciting games of coffee table bowling. Bunny taught Reed and Quinn Ukrainian and they even got to go on stage with their Baba and Dido a few times during the revival. Bunny never missed Reed or Quinn’s piano recitals, soccer games, or graduations. Reed and Quinn remember her as a joyful and inspiring grandmother, and report that their memories of childhood are always pleasant thanks to her endless creativity and imagination, but above all, her love and devotion to her family.
Bunny will be dearly missed by Reed and Quinn, sister Evelyn, sister-in-law Pauline, brother Bob, sister-in-law Shirley, and niece and nephew Marianne and Ivan. Other nieces and nephews include Ryan and Stacey Ewonchuk, Chris Till, Michelle, and Marc Ewonchuk, and beloved spouses and children of all. We can never forget all the people Bunny touched through her music, her tireless work for Indian Affairs, and her support for the Ukrainian-Canadian community in promoting Ukrainian language and culture. There are too many to possibly name.
Bunny is predeceased by parents, Mike and Mary Ewonchuk, brothers Peter and Jerry, former husband, Mickey, and son Mickey Jr.
Cremation has taken place and a private Panakhyda Service and interment will take place in Rosa, MB at a later date.
Click the button below to hear the YouTube Tribute to Bunny from a Polka Power Show!
Make sure you start this Tribute from the beginning.