- Date Of Death: February 11, 2019
- State: Indiana
Mary Peleshenko. Age 95, of St. Peters, Missouri, formerly of Hammond and Munster, IN, passed away peacefully surrounded by her loving family on Monday February 11, 2019. Mary is survived by her loving children, Walter (Sharon) Peleshenko of St. Peters, MO and Anna (late Virgil) Wozniak of Portage, IN; grandchildren, Christopher (Sara) Peleshenko and Walter J. (Andrea) Peleshenko; great grandchildren, Nathan, Matthew, Alexander and Paxton. She was preceded in death by her husband, John Peleshenko.
I’m going to tell you another story…..About a young girl taken from her Ukrainian home as a teen during the German retreat from Russia in WWII. Sacrificed by her mother and father because of their 5 children she was the sickest, allergic to the local climate, and they didn’t think she would survive. She was sent to work on a farm in Austria, where she was treated like a daughter, by the farmer and his family. While in Austria she met my grandfather and 5 months later was married, then gave birth to my father. When the war was over she couldn’t return to Ukraine.
Thanks to the efforts of Elenor Roosevelt her new family, came to America with little to nothing in their pockets and started their “American Dream.” My grandfather held a few jobs before landing secure employment with US Steel in Gary, IN. They had a second child. Were apart of a strong Ukrainian Orthodox Community and worked hard to eventually build their own home in Munster, IN where she stayed baking bread, pierogies.
Doing laundry and house cleaning for income, supporting orphanages in Ukraine, sending $ back to her family, working hard to make the world a better place while she was here. At 90 she was still mowing her own lawn, at 93 she was standing through entire Orthodox services (if you know, you know), at 94 picking weeds and folding laundry at her care facility. She never said “no” she always said “what more can I do.” If you ever tasted her borscht, pierogies, or breads you got a special taste of the love she gave to this world.
Her life wasn’t always easy, she saw and dealt with many conflicts, but her love for God shone through her and was an inspiration to those who knew her. Today I’m happy she is at peace and the dementia is over. Today I rejoice in the 40 years I got to spend with my Baba. Today I’m thankful for all the things Baba’s teach you in word and deed. I’m thankful for a Orthodox faith she shared and set an example living. Today I celebrate her life, by trying to live in her footsteps. I love you Baba. Chris Peleshenko. And in the end the love you take is equal to the love you make.
