PARSIPPANY, N.J. – Yurij Petlura, an accomplished musician on the bandura and piano, died suddenly at home on April 21. He was 28.
The son of Vladimir and Luba (nee Maksym) Petlura, he was a teacher of both music and physics, obtaining both degrees at McMaster University. As the assistant conductor of the Canadian Bandurist Capella and the Ukrainian Bandurist Chorus (UBC) of the U.S.A., Yurij Petlura’s first love in life was music.
During the last five years, he served as a music instructor at bandura camps in London, Ontario, as well as the Kobzarska Sitch Camp of the UBC in Emlenton, Pa. The friends he met at these camps deeply respected and treasured his talents.
The Markey-Dermody Funeral Home page for Mr. Petllura states: “Yurij was a true gem. A pure, gentle soul with a heart of gold, who was kind, humble, selfless, principled, honest, religious, loving and considerate, and was loved beyond words.”
Visitations were held on April 25 at Markey-Dermody Funeral Home and on April 26 at St. Vladimir Ukrainian Orthodox Cathedral in Hamilton, Ontario. Funeral services were held on April 27 at St. Volodymyr Cemetery in Oakville, Ontario.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Canadian Bandurist Capella or Ukrainian Social Service Hamilton. Mr. Petlura leaves behind his parents, Vladimir and Luba; brother Oleksander; sister Christina; grandmother Pelagia Maksym; uncle Orest Maksym with wife, Cynthia; cousins John and Natalie; godparents Mykola Kaskulka and Mary Procyszyn; and numerous friends.