OBITUARY: The Rev. William Czekaluk, pastor of Orthodox Church in Allentown, 85

SOUTH BOUND BROOK, N.J. - The Rev. Protopresbyter William Czekaluk, pastor of St. Mary Ukrainian Orthodox Cathedral in Allentown, Pa., died on March 31 at the age of 85.

The Rev. Czekaluk lived most of his earthly life right across the street from St. Mary's. "Church was his life. He loved God and His people," said his wife, Dobrodijka Halyna. Father Czekaluk started his daily routine on Wednesday, March 31 and around noon he sensed some heart difficulties and was rushed to the local hospital. There he was pronounced dead, having suffered massive heart failure.

Born February 3, 1919, in Yarhoriv, Ternopil district of Ukraine, he received his theological training in Salzburg, Austria. In December of 1951 he was ordained to deaconate by Bishop Mstyslav Skrypnyk. On December 16, 1951, Metropolitan John Theodorovich ordained him to Holy Priesthood.

The Rev. Czekaluk received numerous awards during his ministry, including elevation to the rank of Protopresbyter in 1990 by Bishop Vsevolod Majdansky.

Over the years he served as pastor of Ss. Peter and Paul Ukrainian Orthodox Church in Johnstown, Pa.; St. Vladimir Ukrainian Orthodox Cathedral in New York; Ss. Peter and Paul Ukrainian Orthodox Church in Utica, N.Y.; St. Andrew Memorial Church in South Bound Brook, N.J.; and St. Michael Ukrainian Orthodox Church in Hempstead, Long Island, N.Y. Since 1964 he had served as a pastor of St. Mary Ukrainian Orthodox Cathedral in Allentown.

The first part of the priest's funeral service, served by Archbishop Antony of New York and Washington, the ruling hierarch of the Eastern Eparchy of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church of the U.S.A., was performed at St. Mary Cathedral in Allentown on Palm Sunday. The conclusion of the memorial service was at St. Mary's on Monday, April 5, followed by interment in St. Mary Parish Cemetery in Allentown.

Father Czekaluk is survived by his wife, Halyna and daughter, Larysa Elizabeth Noecker, with her family.

Copyright © The Ukrainian Weekly, April 25, 2004, No. 17, Vol. LXXII

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