Those diaspora Ukrainians who could not attend the funeral in Munich mourned Bandera in their above-mentioned locations. In Edmonton, the Organizations of the Liberation Front (Orhanizatsiï Vyzvol’noho Frontu, OVF) started to prepare for commemorations on 15 October 1959, the day of Bandera’s death. On 20 October, the day of Bandera’s funeral in Munich, memorial services were organized in almost all Ukrainian churches in Edmonton. On 25 October, a panakhyda was organized at the St. Josaphat Ukrainian Catholic Cathedral at 7 p.m., with six priests officiating. Members of the SUM and the Plast Scout Organization appeared in their uniforms and presented their banners. Members of the LVU were also in attendance. The cathedral was full of people, both uniformed and in plain clothes. After the male choir of the Ukrainian National Home (Ukraïns’kyi Narodnyi Dim) enriched the atmosphere in the church with its vocal performances, the parish priest delivered a sermon, in which he praised Bandera’s love, commitment, and labor for Ukraine. The blue-and-yellow flag of Ukraine and the red-and-black flag of the OUN were flown at the entrance to the church, where young girls distributed black ribbons.[1954]

After the church service, the celebration continued at the Ukrainian National Home, which had also been decorated with flags. It was there that the mourning assembly (zhalibna akademiia) took place. The hall could not accommodate the crowd that had gathered to mourn Bandera’s death, and some people were turned away. The commemorative gathering opened with Chopin’s “Funeral March.” A person referred to as “D. M.” read a poem entitled “Immortal Son” (Bezsmertnyi syn), which he had written for Bandera, then the male voice choir of the Ukrainian National Home sang several religious and nationalist songs. Bandera’s portrait was central to the stage decoration and had been prepared especially for the occasion by the renowned Ukrainian artist Professor Iuliian Butsmaniuk. The portrait hung on a black wall in the background, with Bandera’s dates of birth and death on either side, with a huge wreath and a trident, the symbol of Ukraine, as well as two baskets with red roses placed underneath.[1955]

In Ottawa, Ukrainians formed a committee of LVU and SUM members. At 5:30 on 25 October 1959, V. Shevchuk conducted a panakhyda in the Greek Catholic church, during which the SUM choir in uniform sang several nationalist and religious songs. Toward the end of the panakhyda, the priest introduced the person of the “deceased Providnyk and Vozhd’ of the Ukrainian nation” in “touching words.” After the panakhyda a commemorative gathering took place, apparently attended by Ukrainians with various political views.[1956]

In Cleveland, all festivities and dancing in the Ukrainian community were cancelled as a result of the sad news. The SUM ballet group, which was to have performed at a Democratic Party event, refused to dance. On 20 October 1959, the Greek Catholic church was filled with uniformed SUM and Plast members. In the Ukrainian Orthodox church, the priest characterized Bandera as a patriot and defender of Ukraine and drew an analogy between him and George C. Marshall, who was buried on the same day in Washington. After the church services, the mourners went to the SUM building where they performed the political part of the commemoration with the help of a symbolic coffin of the Providnyk.[1957]

On 1 November 1959, Ol’ha Lus’ka published one of the first poems relating to Stepan Bandera.[1958] Leonid Poltava (Leonid Parkhomovych) published another on 7 November.[1959] During the following weeks, months, and years, a number of other poems devoted to the Providnyk appeared, in Ukrainian, German, and English.[1960] On 14 November, Homin Ukraїny reported that Radio Prague broadcast the news about Bandera’s death one hour before he actually died.[1961] Photographs of Bandera’s bust were printed next to eulogistic articles that were supposed to make his demise look more pathetic and magnificent.[1962]