Obituary of Julia Moore

June 12, 1923 – Lviv, Ukraine

May 17, 2024 – Calgary, Alberta

Julia Moore (nee Lubinec-Lupypciw) was born in Lviv, Ukraine, in 1923. Her early childhood years were spent playing with family and friends in the forest and happily doing farm chores.

As war gripped Europe, Julia was a teenager when she was detained and put to work, performing forced labour on a farm and in a restaurant. Julia made the best of this situation and had funny stories of secret ingredients that found their way into soldiers’ meals!

After the war, Julia found herself in a displaced persons camp and chose Canada as the place she would like to live. She and her husband were transported to Montreal and then boarded a train heading west to Vernon, BC. In Vernon, Julia quickly became fluent in her fifth language by reading English newspapers and practising words every day. A few years later, the family, which now included son Roman, moved to Calgary. Soon after arriving in Calgary, Julia welcomed a daughter, Luba, to the family. Calgary is where she spent the rest of her life.

Julia often recounted stories of her time working at a Calgary greenhouse, where she was affectionately known as the “Carnation Lady.” Memories for her children were created by spending time together, and notably, she never missed a year at the Calgary Stampede. Julia often won awards at Stampede for her spectacular needlepoint and the unique guinea pigs she raised. The best memories for Julia, however, were taking grandchildren to the Calgary Zoo, spending nights dancing at the Kensington Legion or Kirby Centre, making cabbage rolls, painting Ukrainian eggs, and travelling every bus route in the city to visit friends for lunch or coffee.

The greatest pride in Julia’s life was being a great-grandmother. She met her first great-granddaughter before she was a day old and teared up as she held her.

Julia had a life full of adventures and challenges, which were met with a will to win. Her wins far outnumbered her losses.

Memories of Julia will be held by many, but most closely by her daughter Luba Pettipas (Randy), her grandchildren, Andrij Tilley, Dana Tilley, and Nick Pettipas (Christie); and her great-grandchildren Isla, Alex, and Sadie.

Julia was predeceased by her father Andrij Lubinec, her mother Anne Lubinec, and her son Roman Lupypciw.

Condolences, memories, and photos may be shared and viewed with Julia’s family here.

In living memory of Julia Moore, a tree will be planted in the Ann & Sandy Cross Conservation Area by McInnis & Holloway Funeral Homes, Park Memorial, 5008 Elbow Drive SW, Calgary, AB T2S 2L5, Telephone: 403-243-8200.