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
20 Responses
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.
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
I knew Alice from her time at the NRCan Library. I am so very sorry for your loss.
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
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.
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)
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.
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
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!
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.