In Loving Memory of Martine Nykytyszyn (1950–2025)

It is with heavy hearts that we announce the passing of our beloved sister, mother, grandmother, aunt and friend, Martine Nykytyszyn, who left us on August 11, 2025, at the age of 75 in Toronto, Ontario, Canada.

Martine was born on February 3, 1950, at 3:00 p.m. at Montargis Hospital (then located at 25 rue Jean Jaurès) in Montargis, France, the first daughter of Yvette and Pierre Nykytyszyn.

At a young age, Martine immigrated to Canada with her mother and two younger sisters, Annick and Jeannine,arriving by ship in 1953. The family settled in Toronto, where she would spend most of her life.  She travelled between Canada and France as a young adult before ultimately making Toronto her permanent home.

Martine married in 1972 and later became a devoted mother to her two children, Karen and Michael. Her life took her to Calgary for several years due to her husband's work, but she later returned to Ontario, settling in Scarborough. There, she pursued her education and earned a nursing degree, embarking on a career that truly reflected her compassionate nature.

Nursing was not just a profession for Martine—it was her calling. She worked with dedication and heart, particularly with children and palliative care patients in the community. Her kindness, empathy, and skill left a profound impact on many lives.

Martine had a thirst for knowledge, always reading, always learning—frequenting the library and leaving with a book in hand. She also had a love for knitting, and her handmade slippers were cherished by all who received them.

Despite enduring many hardships—including the heartbreaking loss of her son Michael at the age of 15, a uterine cancer diagnosis when she was 59, and enduring chronic pain after hip surgery—Martine remained a pillar of strength, grace, and resilience. She also endured the loss of her mother, sister, and other loved ones, yet continued to show up for others with unwavering kindness.

A woman of compassion and quiet strength, Martine lived her life through acts of generosity. She was raised with little but gave abundantly. Her home was a place of comfort—for friends, family, and even stray animals, whom she welcomed and cared for with love. Her empathy extended to all living beings.

Martine touched the lives of all who had the privilege of knowing her. Her empathetic heart, warm spirit, and deep sense of connection made her a remarkable friend and caregiver. Whether through her nursing, her friendships, or her motherhood, she embodied the best of human qualities: unconditional love, resilience, generosity, and a quiet, unwavering strength.

She will be forever missed and remembered for the light she brought into this world.

Martine is survived by her:

Daughter, Karen Shand, and granddaughter, Isabella Blanco

Sisters: Jeannine Dos (Chris Dos) and Monique D’Aoust (Robert Denzel)

Extended French Family: Cristianne Nykytyszyn (Goubet) and Martine Nykytyszyn [Brito Tavares]

Nieces and nephew: Tammy MacDonald, Milene Denzel, and Ryan MacDonald (Tracy MacDonald)

Great-nephews: Zachary and Garrett MacDonald

She is predeceased by her:

Son, Michael Shand

Mother, Yvette D’Aoust

Step-father, André D’Aoust

Father, Pierre Nykytyszyn

Sister, Annick Nykytyszyn

We ask that you remember Martine not for how her journey ended, but for how she lived—with love, with courage, and with a generosity that knew no bounds. Her spirit will live on in the many lives she touched.

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