| Edward Melnyczuk |
| 3/17/2019 |
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Edward Melnyczuk, of Groton, formerly of New Jersey, died on March 17, 2019. Beloved husband of Helen (Zahajkewycz) and devoted father of Askold and his wife Alexandra and Hanna and her husband Joseph, and loving "DIDO" of Lara.
Relatives and friends are kindly invited to attend visiting with his family at 9 am on Thursday March 21 as well as a Requiem Divine Liturgy in Christ the King Ukrainian Catholic Church 146 Forest Hills St. Jamaica Plain 02130 at 10 am. Internment will be at St. Joseph Cemetery, West Roxbury. In lieu of flowers, donations in Edward's memory may be made to Christ the King Ukrainian Catholic Church or to St. Sophia Religious Association of Ukrainian Catholic's Inc., 7911 Whitewood Rd. Elkins Park PA. 19027. Edward was born on September 15, 1925 in Czernivtsi. He immigrated to the US from Ukraine in the early 1950’s. He was an engineer by profession having attended University in Germany where he earned his degree. He never made formal use of the degree, however. The first job he took was working for Anheuser Busch as a member of the Teamster’s Union, and he stayed with it for 37 years, often working seven days a week in order to support his growing extended family. In fact, his sense of responsibility to the family helped to define his character, revealing him as a man of unerring loyalty and a profound sense of responsibility. Just about everyone in his large extended family came to him for help of one sort or another—whether for a loan or for help with filing taxes or for advice. His selfless, unflagging commitment to family extended to his love for and belief in the importance of an independent Ukraine. He showed his loyalty to his native land through his community work in various organizations. He was a proud co-director for the Self Reliance Credit Union in Elizabeth, NJ. He believed in the importance of art and culture - directly supporting various Ukrainian painters by acquiring their works (on a laborer’s salary) as well as by attending cultural performances. Above all, he had a deep understanding of the role the Church played in nurturing an individual’s spiritual life while at the same time maintaining the cohesion of community. To this end he was the founding member of the Ukrainian Patriarchal Society Elizabeth branch. He donated as much time and financial support as he could to this mission. “Tato” had a big heart and an amazing intelligence and memory. He was a great chess player, knew history and politics, loved adventure movies and adventure novels. He collected stamps and coins. He was an excellent black and white photographer with a dark room at the house in NJ. He enjoyed traveling and trying new foods. Still, he was very watchful of his health and enjoyed learning about naturopathic holistic medicine and researching vitamins. His love for his granddaughter Lara was immeasurable. The joy in his face when he interacted with Lara was palpable. It was as if he were re-born when she entered our lives. He pampered her, and visited us often. He provided her with piano lessons, and dance lessons, and contributed to her college fund. He was, in a word: generous. He was as pleased having Lara as he must have been when Askold and Hanna were young. He was simultaneously modest and proud, meek an courageous. He bowed his head only before God and Truth. He was almost comically frugal - right up to the end of his life. He would cut up a cheap paper napkin into quarters, because who needed more? At the same time he gave generously to family member pursuing their education, and to those organizations he believed furthered the interests of Ukrainian independence, which included the Mazeppa museum in Kyiv. We will miss him and his generous and great spirit. But we know his goodness and good deeds will forever be among us. | ||||
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