OMAHA – Jaroslawa Prodywus, a dedicated and hard-working founder, benefactor and loyal parishioner of Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary Ukrainian Byzantine-Catholic Church in Omaha, as well as a loving wife of well over 68 years, a devoted and sacrificing mother, a proud grandmother and great-grandmother, passed away here in late July. She was 85.
Jaroslawa Pukyrys Prodywus was born on the feast day of the Holy Bishop and Wonderworker St. Nicholas on December 6, 1929, in Paushiwka (Ternopil Oblast) Ukraine, to Wasyl Pukyrys and Anna Szwediuk. After the births of her sister, Ivanka, and brother, Orest, her father died when she was just 6 years old; soon thereafter, her mother Anna was remarried to Mychajlo Goszulak, who swiftly assumed a fatherly role.
From a very young age, Jaroslawa had a strong desire to dance. By age 15 she was accepted as a member of the Blavatsky Dance Company, performing in both ballet and the company’s even more famous Ukrainian folk dances. She carried a great love of Ukrainian dance for many years to come, and many benefitted from that love.
At 16 1/2, Jaroslawa met Oleksander (Oleksa) Prodywus, and they were married in Augsburg, Germany, on June 6, 1947. Together with their young son, Jaroslaw Oleksander, and the soon-to-be-born son, Yurij Ihor (1950-2008), this young family made the long journey to Baltimore in early 1950, where they started their new lives as proud Ukrainian Americans.
Soon afterwards, an article in the national Ukrainian newspaper Svoboda brought their attention to a “small group of enthusiastic individuals in Omaha, Nebraska, who wished to start a Ukrainian Catholic parish.” Mr. and Mrs. Prodywus decided to make the commitment of moving to Omaha to join in their work of starting this new Ukrainian Catholic community, thereby becoming parish founders. The small new parish quickly flourished and prospered among its newfound neighbors, making the Ukrainian presence well-known in the Omaha community. It soon became well-appreciated alongside the numerous older and more established ethnic communities there.
As the parish grew quickly, so did the Prodywus family, with the additions of sons Oleh Taras (1953-2007) and Oleksander Myroslaw (1957); a daughter, Daria Marianna (1958); and the youngest son, Hryhorij Mychajlo (1960). Mr. Prodywus took-up work at a long-time local meat-packing plant, while his wife worked in a hospital dietary kitchen. Despite their tiring and difficult daily work, going to church was always a priority for the family. The Prodywuses walked the one-block track to church to participate in divine liturgies and other services. Many of the parish priests were also grateful for this proximity, as they would often walk back to the family’s house for a well-cooked meal by Mrs. Prodywus, which she prepared in great appreciation of their important service.
Mrs. Prodywus was very active in the parish sisterhood, especially during preparations of all parish and public dinners, bazaars, and parish and ethnic festivals (her awesome Ukrainian cooking was well-known in the community); she often assisted in cleaning the church, while adorning it with her own home-grown flowers.
She continued her love of dance by starting Omaha’s first Ukrainian dance company (with dancers of her own age). Later, she tended to the children of these individuals by instructing them and starting similar, younger dance groups. Her dancers were featured at many city events and festivals. Mrs. Prodywus also sang with the various local Ukrainian choirs, both in the parish and beyond.
On July 27, Mrs. Prodywus became mysteriously ill and was quickly rushed to Bellevue Medical Center, where she quietly fell asleep in the Lord less than 24 hours later.
On behalf of the parish pastor, who was on vacation in Ukraine, funeral services were offered by the Rt. Rev. Archpriest Ivan A. Krotec along with the the Rev. Daniel Lenz of Mount Michael Benedictine Abbey in Elkhorn, Neb., with a panakhyda on July 31. On August 1, funeral services proceeded to Assumption Ukrainian Catholic Church, where responses were led by her son, the Rev. Oleksander, and sung by all those in attendance. After burial at Hillcrest Memorial Park Cemetery, a luncheon in her memory was held at the parish hall.
Mrs. Prodywus is survived by her husband of 68 years (and now the last parish founder alive) Oleksa; sons Jaroslaw, the Rev. Oleksander and Hryhorij; daughter Daria; grandchildren and great-grandchildren; sister Ivanka; nieces, nephews and other relatives; as well as both long-time and newer parishioners, and many friends.
It should be noted that Mr. Prodywus, 87, was also the long-time secretary of Ukrainian National Association Branch 356 (Karpaty) in Omaha, and was recently recognized and awarded for 62 years of dedicated service to that fraternal organization.