Obituary for Irene Mychajluk (Bilak)
Irene Mychajluk (Bilak), born October 5, 1921 in Pomorjany present-day Ukraine, passed away peacefully at home on Thursday, October 24, 2019.
In her Story of a Refugee and recollections, she wrote: The storms of the terrible war and political persecutions destroyed the roots of our own family tree…I will try to restore, rebuild, and nurture the injuries – so the new sprouts would spring out in the new soil.
Surviving the terrors of Soviet and Nazi occupation, Irene and her family fled west toward freedom. On a train overcrowded with refugees, which she was pushed into through a window, Irene met Zenon, her future husband, when he cleared a little space for her to sit on his suitcase. As displaced people, they emigrated to the United States living in Havre, Montana and Enderlin, North Dakota before settling in to Rochester, New York. For more than 50 years of marriage, Irene and Zenon never went to bed quarreling.
Irene, a pharmacist by training, was a dedicated member of the Ukrainian National Women’s League of America and served as the organization’s secretary. Both in church and in daily life, Irene was a lifelong student of spirituality and religion. She cherished thoughtful conversations, had an eye for beauty, and worked tirelessly to create a family hearth. She is survived by her daughters: Alexandra Marris and Lydia Suchy, grandchildren: Tianna, Peter, Myko, and Marko, and greatgrandchildren: Isaac, Zenon, Jasper, and Royce.
Calling hours are on Monday, October 28 from 10-11 a.m. at All Saints Catholic Church, 1340 Lancaster Ave and funeral services will follow from 11-12 p.m. After the service there will be a luncheon at the Bishop Harrison Center at 1342 Lancaster Ave. Burial will be the following day at 11 a.m. at Holy Sepulchre Cemetery, 2461 Lake Avenue in Rochester, N.Y.
In lieu of flowers, please consider making a charitable donation to the Ukrainian Leadership Academy, a non-for-profit organization working to cultivate integrity and responsibility in Ukraine’s next generation of leaders., please see; https://ual.ua/en/ . Checks should be made payable to The Ukrainian Leadership Foundation, Chase Bank account no. 362726090, and can be left in the care of Lida Suchy or any Chase Bank branch. It is also possible to make donations online at https://ual.ua/en/donate/ or by wire transfer.
We would like to thank all the family, friends, and care-givers, especially those of Hospice of Central New York, and members of our community for their friendship, support, and Love.
In her Story of a Refugee and recollections, she wrote: The storms of the terrible war and political persecutions destroyed the roots of our own family tree…I will try to restore, rebuild, and nurture the injuries – so the new sprouts would spring out in the new soil.
Surviving the terrors of Soviet and Nazi occupation, Irene and her family fled west toward freedom. On a train overcrowded with refugees, which she was pushed into through a window, Irene met Zenon, her future husband, when he cleared a little space for her to sit on his suitcase. As displaced people, they emigrated to the United States living in Havre, Montana and Enderlin, North Dakota before settling in to Rochester, New York. For more than 50 years of marriage, Irene and Zenon never went to bed quarreling.
Irene, a pharmacist by training, was a dedicated member of the Ukrainian National Women’s League of America and served as the organization’s secretary. Both in church and in daily life, Irene was a lifelong student of spirituality and religion. She cherished thoughtful conversations, had an eye for beauty, and worked tirelessly to create a family hearth. She is survived by her daughters: Alexandra Marris and Lydia Suchy, grandchildren: Tianna, Peter, Myko, and Marko, and greatgrandchildren: Isaac, Zenon, Jasper, and Royce.
Calling hours are on Monday, October 28 from 10-11 a.m. at All Saints Catholic Church, 1340 Lancaster Ave and funeral services will follow from 11-12 p.m. After the service there will be a luncheon at the Bishop Harrison Center at 1342 Lancaster Ave. Burial will be the following day at 11 a.m. at Holy Sepulchre Cemetery, 2461 Lake Avenue in Rochester, N.Y.
In lieu of flowers, please consider making a charitable donation to the Ukrainian Leadership Academy, a non-for-profit organization working to cultivate integrity and responsibility in Ukraine’s next generation of leaders., please see; https://ual.ua/en/ . Checks should be made payable to The Ukrainian Leadership Foundation, Chase Bank account no. 362726090, and can be left in the care of Lida Suchy or any Chase Bank branch. It is also possible to make donations online at https://ual.ua/en/donate/ or by wire transfer.
We would like to thank all the family, friends, and care-givers, especially those of Hospice of Central New York, and members of our community for their friendship, support, and Love.