Valentina "Tina" Tarasuk passed away peacefully on the morning of December 11, 2021, at her home on the Scarborough Bluffs, ON. Born July 17, 1923 in Horodishche Ukraine to Dimitri and Anastasia Tarasuk, Tina was the second eldest of ten siblings. In August 1930, Tina and her family immigrated to St Walburg SK, Canada, where they established a farm. Tina's favourite childhood memories were of her adventures hunting and berry picking on the Prairies, with her brother, Mike.

Although she would never claim the moniker, Tina was a true feminist before her time. At 14 she started her retail career in the town of St. Walburg, while finishing her education via correspondence. In her early twenties, Tina moved to Toronto and continued to advance in her career of sales. In 1954, using the skill-set she gained as a sales clerk and with her own moxie, Tina started her own business,Tex-Style Store Limited (a custom drapery house) which she successfully ran for 47 years. With the profits from her store, she purchased her own retail building along with triplex rental units in the Toronto Beaches. Tina became a respected pillar of the local merchant community and Tex-Style was a beloved landmark in the Queen West area.

Tina often boasted that she had read every chapter of the Bible, which she would continue to reread daily throughout her life. (When she was unable to read it for herself, her caregivers would read passages to her as part of their morning routine). Tina's Christian faith remained vitally important to her; she believed in the literal interpretation of the Bible and earnestly attempted to practice her faith with the tenants of the Gospel in mind. Tina was an original and active parishioner of Bayview Glen Alliance Church, which became the main base for her friendship community. To "honour her parents" Tina also generously contributed to the establishment and maintenance of Missionary Alliance Churches in Canada, Poland and the Ukraine.

Tina was extremely proud of her Ukrainian roots and (when able) she tried to honour her heritage by perfecting family recipes and sharing the delicacies with her neighbours and work community. Fan favourites included, her cabbage rolls, her mother's borscht, and arguably the best perogies in Toronto.

Tina had a serious wanderlust and curiosity about the world around her. On her rare vacation time, Tina travelled the globe extensively, visiting six of the seven continents. The trips Tina planned for herself were adventurous and absolutely unique; In order to island-hop throughout the Caribbean, she sailed on an ocean cargo freighter; she hand-delivered apples, oranges and fabric material to the Inuit communities in the Arctic Circle; she followed Darwin's footsteps in the Galapagos Island where she photographed her favourite red puffer booby birds; and she even dined overlooking the Taj Mahal from her hotel room balcony in India. On her last big adventure, Tina's faith was reinvigorated when she travelled to the Holy Land with members of her church congregation. Tina recounted that this trip marked the highlight of all of her travels, because she was able to see first-hand, where her niece,
Jill Tarasuk-Steinmetz, offered much needed physiotherapy to the Palestinian community, and Tina was also able to proudly stand witness while her niece Brenda Tarasuk was baptized in the River Jordan.

Because of her independent spirit and solitary nature Tina never married, however she adored children and her family. Tina was the self appointed matriarch of her Canadian family, hosting Christmas reunions, along with countless wedding and baby showers. Tina became a benevolent Godmother to all of her neighbourhood children, organizing annual Easter egg hunts and tobogganing parties in her backyard.Of all that she accomplished, Tina said she was most proud of her parents, as she always sought inspiration from their values and hard work.

Tina was predeceased by her parents, Demetri and Anastasia Tarasuk, and her siblings, Michael, Mary Hoffman (Everett), Peter (Betty), Jean, Laura (Ted) Swanson. She is survived by her brothers Walter (Doris), John (Nancy), Art (Vera), and her sisters-in-law Vi and Tomi Tarasuk, along with a host of nieces and nephews, to the third generation.

A wholehearted thank you to all of Tina's caregivers, especially Helen Serneo and Vinah Garcia, who lovingly walked with her on her final journey. In her later life, Tina retreated to her inner thoughts, however, she almost always managed to offer a blessing to visitors when they departed, saying "Thank you for your goodness." On behalf of Tina, to her loyal customers, supportive neighbours, faithful family and loving caregivers, we say "Thank you for your goodness"!

Funeral Service and Internment to beheld at Pine Hills Cemetery & Funeral Centre, 625 Birchmount Road, Toronto, ON, Saturday, January 22, 2022. There will be a quiet prayer hour starting starting at 10AM; the Funeral Service will start at 11AM, followed by the Interment at 12 noon. The Funeral Service will be live streamed for those who are unable to attend in person.

To honour Tina Tarasuk donations can be made in her name to Bayview Glen Alliance Church (300 Steeles Avenue East, Thornhill, ON, L3T-1A7) and or Carr Street Gospel Church; Russian Ukrainian Baptist Church (24 Carr Street, Toronto, ON, M5T-1B5)