Olga  (Arkatin) Pastuszok

“Baba”

Age 86, she peacefully passed away at home in Middletown, Delaware, on Tuesday April 9, 2013, after battling a long neurological illness. Olga was a woman of strength and courage devoting her life to her beloved husband, family and God. Born November 7, 1926, on a farm in Chesapeake City, Maryland with her ten brothers and sisters, she was the daughter of the late Gregory and Mary (Mankiw) Arkatin.

She was a 1946 Graduate of Saint Basil’s Academy, Fox Chase, PA. With a love of the opera, she continued her studies in music, voice, drama, including violin and piano. Her professional career comprised in rich diversity of positions including singing professionally; well-known for singing Ave Maria at weddings. She sang with various Ukrainian choirs including the Philadelphia Ukrainian Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception, Holy Ghost Ukrainian Catholic Church of Chester and St. Nicholas Ukrainian Catholic Church of Wilmington. She taught piano, was a choir director, music teacher and taught the Ukrainian language. She was a member of Ukrainian Congress Committee of America, past President of the Apostleship of Prayer and always upheld the greatest pride and respect for her Ukrainian traditions. She loved to bake and cook, but her most cherished role was as mother and grandmother, providing nurturing love, encouragement, support, and education.

Mrs. Pastuszok is survived by her beloved husband Stefan Pastuszok; daughters, Mary Moczerniak Buresch and her husband Paul of East Aurora, NY and Eugenia (aka Genya) Pastuszok Dell’Orefice of Middletown, DE; five grandchildren: Christopher Buresch, Alicia (Buresch) DiFrancisco, Robert Buresch, Dante’ Dell’Orefice and Nina Dell’Orefice; 5 great grandchildren;  sisters: Sr. Mary Bernarda, OSBM, Rosalie Senick, Veronica Tokash, and Stephanie Mican and numerous nieces and nephews.

Visitation will be 9 AM on Monday, April 15 with Requiem Liturgy to follow at St. Nicholas Ukrainian Catholic Church, Miller Road and Lea Boulavard, Wilmington DE 19802. Interment will be at St. Mary’s Cemetery in Elkins Park, PA. In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations be made to the Sisters of St. Basil the Great, 710 Fox Chase Road, Philadelphia, PA 19046.

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