Ukrainian Side: In Memory of Vera (1927-2013)

Vera: 1944

A woman a world away...and someone I might have had the wonderful opportunity to meet passed away Wednesday March 13, 2013. Her name was Vera Nikitichna Gumenyuk from the village of Sabadash. She was the daughter of my grandfather Prokopiy's youngest sister Lyudmyla 'Lidiya' Todosevna Lysanyuk (1906-2006).

Vera was my first cousin once removed or if my father was still alive a first cousin he never knew existed.  This is where the bittersweet passing of her reveals itself. I found her...and was only ever fortunate enough to get to know her through correspondence with her daughter Yelena, my second cousin.

A year ago...I received a wonderful letter from her daughter Yelena. It was wonderfully personal and included family information along with a small hand-drawn family tree. But, the most amazing part were the loose contents of original old family photographs. This was such a genuine sweet gesture from a newly discovered family so far away. In my hands, were the following tucked inside the three other pages of the hand-written letter I received.

These three photos revealed to me both a culture and time beyond my own true understanding.

There was the small photo of Vera (on top and enlarge) from 1944 that seemed to come from one of the typical old photo vending machines of the era. It showed a young girl in her late teens who resembled my older aunt Katherine in many ways. One could tell that there parents were siblings as the subtle physical characteristics were uncanny. The letter says that Vera was taken to a German internment camp during the war. In a way, you can see that here is a young girl who looks older than her years. Though her hair is in pigtails, the photograph as sweet as it is still shows a young girl forced into a pose...forced to grow up faster than a girl her age should ever have to know. War must do this to everyone who survives.

The second photo (middle) was taken six years later in 1950 and shows two young women. It shows Vera to the left with her sister Alexandra 'Sasha' to the right. There is something actually very sweet and loving about this one. Yet, there is also a resilience to them in this photo. Part of the sweetness of this photo must come from the fact that you can see that it was taken outside in front of a stack of hay bales with a sheet draped down the front as their backdrop.

While the third photograph (bottom) was taken nine years later and shows two generations. Here Vera's young niece who bares her name is flanked by her mother Maria on the left and by her older aunt Sasha on the right. This photo says it was taken in Verone, a small town east of Sabadash and appears to catch them in a public square as there are other family in the far background.

Because my anticipated first time visit to the Ukraine had to be cancelled due to my own health reasons, her passing was deeply felt by me. There are not many of her generation left that could easily have called my father their own first cousin. This generation has entered an age where for some very few remain in allowing me the opportunity to meet them. Now another one has passed away before I could set foot on the soil of my paternal ancestors. The previous passing was by her own cousin Yuriy 'Yura' Grigoryevich Saranyuk (1929-2012) who was the son of my grandfather's other sister Olga Todosevna Lysanyuk (1901-1970).

Vera was already not doing well and was being nursed by her daughter Yelena. The last photo I saw of her showed that she was not doing well. I knew not the full circumstances of her ailing health. But, from these photographs one can feel a sense that life over the years was not easy for her. It was my hope that she might be still around for my visit...but, she passed away a month before my anticipated arrival. Late last year when I had told them I could not possibly make it until the spring, I had a sense that she was trying to hold one. I know how important my little entry into their lives must have meant to her and the rest of the family. But, for me it meant the world. Everyone of them has added an extra dimension to further understanding my paternal heritage.

With her gone I find another opportunity to connect lost.  It is quite possible that she had more to say to me...to share with me...or even, convey to me simply by being in the presence of each other.  But, the puzzle piece that she might have been able to share on my heritage and family history is now a light forever gone.

Rest in Peace Vera / спочивати з миром Віра

Update (2014):

Since the death of Vera I have continued to be in contact with various family members. It is my hope to continue this connection and expand via documentation the portion of the Lysanyuk family tree from which our branches derive. These include those family members that were not researched (or shown in the family tree below) who are descendants of my g-grandfather Feodosiy 'Todos' Petrov Lysanyuk.

Lysanyuk Family Tree
Photo by Valery Mirvoda : 2013

My GOAL is to expand this tree to include a new panel that would fit in the lower left area coming from Todos. 

Lower Panel Detail of Main Family Tree (upper left is our family)
Photo by Valery Mirvoda : 2013

Already I have discovered local church records which confirm missing family members. It are these records of both missing ancestors from this one branch and their descendants that I wish to include in the expansion of this tree to make it more complete.

It will be make this a more inclusive and complete picture of a family whose history not only  goes back in time - but, crosses into new lands...yet, remain connected by blood.

I wish to thank Valery Mirvoda for providing me with these recent photos of the family tree as they provide greater detail and appreciation of the legacy that is our personal pedigree.