Nadia Demidenko

Nadia Demidenko (neé Golik), 87, passed away peacefully on the evening of October 16, 2026, surrounded by her three children, after suffering several chronic illnesses. She was born in Kapuskasing, ON and raised in Toronto. In her youth, she was part of the Ukrainian Canadian Youth Club where she enjoyed dancing and singing; she was named Queen of the Ontario Festival in 1954. In 1955, at the age of 17, she left Canada with her parents and brother, Billy (deceased 2009), for the Soviet Union as part of the “Return to the Homeland” (propaganda) campaign. She completed university language studies in Kiev, where she met her husband of 66 years, Anatole (deceased, January 2026). Following her studies, she began a successful career as an announcer for Radio Kiev. She often loved singing and playing the mandolin while being accompanied by Anatole on accordion. Nadia valued her family above all else. She kept a quiet life, mostly with her husband, children, and grandchildren. She valued loyalty, integrity, and hard work. A stoic, reserved woman. Nadia persevered through many difficulties in her life. She was a humanitarian who believed in equality for all. She fought for her family’s freedom to flea the Soviet regime to create possibilities for a better life. After returning to Canada in 1973, she spent 30 years working as a translator for the Federal Public Service. She leaves behind her three children, Slava (Iryna), Natasha (Michael), and Andrew (Julia); and 8 grandchildren, Amy, Alex, Ian (deceased, 2017), Leopold, Isaac, Augustine, Nina, Vera, and Ivar. She was a lover of dogs, flowers, and pasta. In her memory, please consider a donation to  Help Ukraine Children | Ukraine Children’s Aid Fund – Transforming the Lives of Children in Ukraine