MRS. SOPHIE WITYK of Lethbridge, beloved wife of the late Mr. Wasyl ""Bill"" Wityk, passed away peacefully on Sunday, May 16, 2010 at the age of 84 years.

Sophie was born on January 20, 1926 in Trostianec, Ternopil, Ukraine. At 16 years of age she was forced to leave her home to work in Germany during World War II. In 1948 she emigrated to Canada and worked as a domestic on a farm in Twin Butte, AB. She moved to Lethbridge in 1949 where she was to meet her future husband, Wasyl ""Bill"" Wityk. Sophie and Bill married in 1950 and settled in Lethbridge and together they raised two children. Sophie worked at the Lethbridge Municipal Hospital/Lethbridge Regional Hospital for 26 years until her retirement in 1991. She was an active member of St. Volodymyr Ukrainian Catholic Church, the Ukrainian Catholic Women's League and the Norbridge Senior Centre. Sophie enjoyed gardening, baking, traveling, going for walks and time spent with family, especially her five grandchildren.

Sophie is survived by her daughter Rosemarie (Oscar) Tavernini and their children LeeAnna, Angela, and David of Lethbridge; daughter-in-law Lorna Wityk and her children Christopher of Calgary and Nicole of London, ON; sister Mary Cenek of Ukraine as well as numerous nieces, nephews and their families.

Besides her dear husband Bill, who passed away in 1979, Sophie was predeceased by her son Nicholas Wityk in 2004 and her parents and brother in Ukraine.

Vigil Rites (Prayers) will be held at 7:00pm on Friday, May 21, 2010 at MARTIN BROS. RIVERVIEW CHAPEL, 610 - 4 Street South, Lethbridge.

A Funeral Mass will be held at 10:00am on Saturday, May 22, 2010 at ST. VOLODYMYR UKRAINIAN CATHOLIC CHURCH, 715 - 13 Street North, Lethbridge with Father Gary Sedgwick celebrant. Interment to follow in the Mountain View Cemetery.