My biological father, Ralph Wolloschuk descended from Polish Ukrainian immigrants. Katyan (Michael) Wolloschuk (Woloszczuk), Ralph's father arrived in Canada in 1901 and was naturalized on October 7, 1911. Anna Halabert (Halaburda) came to Canada in 1910 when she was 13 years old and was naturalized March 8, 1950. Anna had her first child in 1911, apparently when she was about 14 and Michael about 37. The Wolloschuk's did not like to talk about their European roots, and my father did not like to discuss his siblings or parents.

Michael, born in Vienna, Austria, and was son of German and Austrian descent. He was married in Austria, but left them and came to Canada where he worked on the railroad with Ukrainians and began going to their get-togethers, where he met my grandmother, Anna. When he was older he married Anna who was 13. She bore him the children below. Anna left Michael and went from Lethbridge to Vancouver, B.C., Canada, where she remarried to a Greek, Mike Vergis, a very gentle and lovable man. She would often send antibiotics and parcels to relatives in Poland. My father also had no desire to be around his own father. Ana was was Polish but spoken Ukrainian also. She left Michael when my father Ralph was 5 years old.

My Wolloschuk cousins: Left to right: My Aunt Vicci's daughter, Heidi, Aunt Helen's daughter, Sharon, Alyce's daughter, Michelle, and my sister Janice, by my father's (Ralph) second marriage: