Obituary of Maria Olijnyk
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Maria Olijnyk, 89, a long term resident of Pittsburgh PA, and most recently of Mountain Lakes, NJ, entered into eternal rest and joy on December 12, 2010 after a 5 year battle with lung cancer.
Born in Oszmiana, Lithuania she witnessed first hand as a young woman the devastation of war in Ukraine and Germany during the 1940's. After the war, she was a civilian employee of the US Army in Ansbach, Germany, and then immigrated with her husband and daughter to the US in 1948, where they settled in Pittsburgh, PA in 1949.
Maria, along with her husband and brother- in-law, was a founder of Olijnyk Brothers Meat Packing Co, which for many years was well known for its custom meats, especially their highly popular kielbasa. She was very active and strongly supported various Ukrainian- American causes; Maria valued her membership in the Ukrainian National Women's League of America and was a long term parishioner at St. John the Baptist Ukrainian Catholic Church in Pittsburgh, PA. Maria was a woman who impressed all whom she met with her great patience, courage, and selflessness, and will be missed by many.
She is survived by her husband of 68 years, Michael, her brother-in-law, Basilus, her daughter, Helena Mazur and son-in-law, Leonard of Mountain Lakes, NJ. She is also survived by 3 grandchildren, Maria, Michael, and Irene, her great grandchildren, Walter, Helena, and Evelyn, and a great-great granddaughter, Alicia. Other survivors include her nephew Janusz Szydlo, and numerous family members in Ukraine and Poland. Funeral services were held on December 15, 2010 at St. John the Baptist Ukrainian Catholic Church in Whippany, NJ followed by internment in St. Mary's cemetery in Jenkintown, PA. In honor of Maria, donations to St.John the Baptist Ukrainian Catholic Church Building Fund, 60 N. Jefferson Rd , Whippany, NJ 07981 would be greatly appreciated.
Funeral arrangements under the direction of Norman Dean Home for Services 16 Righter Ave Denville, NJ 07834. Please light a candle in her memory at: www.normandean.com.
