It is with overwhelming sadness that I share the news of the very sudden and unexpected passing of Alice Solyma on March 19, 2016.
She will be greatly missed by her only sister, Natalie Solyma of Edmonton; her Uncle Mike (Doreen ) Booy of Edmonton and Auntie Ann Booy (late Nick Booy) of North Battleford, Saskatchewan and many cousins in Canada and Ukraine. She was predeceased by her parents, Nicholas and Nellie Solyma.
For over 35 years, she was employed in a career she truly loved, with the Natural Resources Canada Pacific Forestry Centre. Major federal government restructuring in 2014 sadly brought an end to this position and caused her to search for, and successfully find, contract work with the Institute of Oceans and Fisheries which she really enjoyed. She was a rare soul who really loved her work.
I wish to thank her library colleagues both locally and across Canada for their many kind thoughts. A very special thank you to Pam Wilkins for her kindness to me and for taking the time to let others know in the library network about Alice’s passing. Alice would have been very touched, as I am.
A special thank you also to her long time neighbours who have been so kind to Alice in the past and now to me. Alice spoke highly of you.
She enjoyed volunteering with dances at the Da Vinci Centre and spoke of the friendships made there.
Alice valued her family, co- workers and friends and would do anything to help them.
Alice has lived in Victoria since 1978, but will be returning home to Edmonton to be near her family.
Funeral services will be held at 1:00 pm on Saturday, April 2, 2016 at St. John’s Ukrainian Orthodox Cathedral in Edmonton. Interment to follow at St. Michael’s Cemetery.
If wished, memorial donations in Alice’s name may be made to the B.C. Cancer Agency, who helped Alice successfully battle thyroid cancer in 1995, or to the Heart and Stroke Foundation of Canada.
Live like tomorrow never comes, Alice did.
Condolences may be offered to the family below.
McCall’s Funeral Home
www.mccallbros.com
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Danielle Graham
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Paula Purcell My condolences to Alice’s family. As Librarians at NRCan, both Alice and I worked in different parts of the country – Alice in Victoria and me in Ottawa. From time to time we had healthy professional discussions, mostly in the area of cataloguing. Although we sometimes did not see eye-to-eye, there was always mutual respect. She served her clients with verve. On a personal note, we identified with each other during the time of the Government downsizing. She was both sympathetic and empathetic to me. She listened. She also encouraged me to seek a position in a different area but still within the NRCan Library network. I will always remember her kindness and integrity. Sincerely, Paula
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Bette Reid The news of Alice’s passing reached me just last evening and my heart sank. I, too, worked with Alice at Pacific Forestry Centre. We shared common origins in and the love of Edmonton. We would joke about your being the “other Solyma family” in Edmonton with the correct spelling of the name. Alice’s gentle spirit led to a keen interest in each person she knew, and her gentleness often soothed a troubled soul. I am grateful to have had her in my life. Please accept heartfelt condolences, and may your sorrow be lifted by loving memories of Alice’s sweet presence on this plane.
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Marg Palmer I knew Alice as we were both government librarians, I with the Province. She was always ahead with technology and I learned from her. A very pleasant person and organized and dedicated. All of the government library community will miss her.
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Mike Meagher I also will miss Alice’s kind help, tho’ I no longer work at the Pacific Forestry Center. She was always ready to find the needed link to the crucial reference to assist our work.
A fine lady and good colleague.
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Liz Hansen My sympathies to the family of Alice Solyma. I was shocked and saddened to learn she is no longer with us. I knew Alice as a dedicated and enthusiastic colleague. She maintained a passionate interest in her profession and will be missed by many in the library community. As well as professional matters we shared an interest in music. I always enjoyed chatting to Alice about the latest concerts she had attended. Alice made the effort and sometimes travelled some distance to hear bands in the best venue possible for the genre.
I’m sorry for your lost, may your memories be of comfort.
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Edith Hopp I was very saddened and shocked to learn of Alice’s sudden and untimely passing. We were library colleagues for nearly two decades so I can certainly attest to the passionate dedication she exhibited in all her library work. I still fondly remember the two-day road trip she and I took after the forestry librarians’ annual meeting in St. John’s, Nfld. in Sept. of 1991: Alice had (conveniently?) caught quite a bad cold so yours truly had to do all the driving. Nonetheless, we thoroughly enjoyed our exploring and sight seeing tour of the eastern coastline of Newfoundland and those two days just flew by.
I would like to extend my sincere condolences to Alice’s family and friends; she will be very much missed by so many.
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Paul Harker I was greatly saddened to hear about Alice’s passing. I knew her well in the mid-1970’s when we both worked at Natural Resources Canada. She was a delight to be with and a lot of fun – we went to see her beloved Edmonton Eskimos play in the Olympic Stade (and took a ‘Go Esks’ banner with us), and did a lot of local cycling and touring. I am really sorry to hear she’s gone. Sincere condolences to her family.
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Lorreen Hodge Good Morning Natalie
I was sad to hear of your sister’s sudden passing. I read her obituary in the newspaper on Tuesday. Please contact me the next time you are in Victoria – you can get my email address from Joyce or Paulette.
Thinking of you.
Lorreen
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David Smith We were very sorry to hear of Alice’s death and offer you our sincerest sympathy. I have to think that Alice will already be busy organizing heaven’s library with the same enthusiasm that she gave to her work in earthly libraries. I worked with Alice as a volunteer at the Pacific Forestry Centre Library and shared her sorrow when this fine library that she had dedicated so much of her life to was closed. I was always amazed at the extra hours that she committed to her job and her insights of where libraries were headed.
David & Susanne
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Deb Oranchuk Being a library colleague, I remember Alice being totally dedicated to her profession and always looked forward to her visits from Victoria to our library at the Northern Forestry Centre in Edmonton. So very untimely and with much sadness I send sincere condolences to her family and friends.
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Charles Gorrie Dear Natalie and family
It was with much sadness that I read about the death of your beloved sister Alice. I last saw her at a dance at the Da Vinci centre about 3 years ago. She greeted me with a hug and I couldn’t help but give her a hug and a kiss in return. I had just retired as her financial advisor at CIBC Wood Gundy. Hugging and kissing clients is not normal protocol while working! She was a wonderful person.
She was always a delight to work with and always very interested.You mentioned that she loved her job – that was an understatement – she was passionate!
Kindness, caring, loving, intent, polite, all help describe Alice.
My prayers and kindest thoughts are with you
Sincerely
Charles (Chuck) Gorrie
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Shelley Hanninen I knew Alice from her time at the NRCan Library. I am so very sorry for your loss.
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Jane Foster My thoughts and prayers go out to Alice’s Family and Friends. She will be missed by many people whose lives she has been a part of. Colleague from Pacific Forestry Centre.
Jane Foster
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Cliff Halayko I was saddened to read of Alice’s passing. While I haven’t seen her for a very long time I still remember enjoying working with her to purchase her home. I will make a donation to the B.C. Cancer Agency in her name. My condolences to her family and friends.
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Jim Wood So sorry to learn of Alice’s untimely passing. Her passion for her work and commitment to her work colleagues was truly admirable.
Jim Wood, Director Pacific Forestry Centre (retired)
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Ed Wass Please accept my heartfelt condolences on the lost of your beloved Alice.
I worked with Alice at the Pacific Forestry Centre. She and I would
often discuss our common Ukrainian roots.
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Luke Kratz My thoughts are with you, her family during this time of bereavement. Alice was a kind, caring person who enjoyed the rare gift of loving her work. She was passionate about the work she was doing and knew that it made a difference. She went out of her way sometimes at great personal cost to do the work that she was sent here to do.
I and I am sure many are saddened by her early departure from this life and hope to help you ease the pain that I am sure you must feel at this time.
Luke
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Darlene Tan Our Sincere Sympathies goes to the family of Alice Solyma. I met Alice when I worked at the Atlantic Forestry Centre Library, Fredericton, NB. Recently, she was working with my colleague, Pamela Wilkins. She was a very dedicated professional and always had the best interests of her clients in mind. She will be missed by the library community. God Comfort you during this time!
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Anne Dickinson I am so very saddened to learn of Alice’s recent passing. I was a colleague of hers at the Pacific Forestry Centre for many years. I’ll remember her as a gentle soul and extremely devoted to her work. I know she loved to dance, as well. My sincerest condolences to her family and friends. She left us far too soon.
Natalie and family. I was deeply saddened to hear of the passing of your sister. Please accept my heartfelt condolences.