RESCUED UKRAINE GRAN DIES AGE 101
Galina thanked Irish in her final days for their kind hospitality
A BELOVED gran who was rescued from Ukraine by her Irish-based granddaughter has died at 101.
Galina Vituck passed away peacefully on Tuesday morning surrounded by family in Trim, Co Meath, where she has lived since May 2022.
In her final days, she spoke in her native tongue to thank the Irish people for their kindness and hospitality, wishing “may they be able to walk on their own legs for as long as they can”.
Her granddaughter Luba Healy drove across Europe in a mercy dash to rescue her mum Nina, 72, and Galina when the invasion by Russia started.
Nina had been pushing Galina in a wheelbarrow to the air raid shelter and carrying her on her back down the stairs.
The brave gran already lived through two famines and the horrors of World War II when she used to carry ammunition through the night to help Russian and Ukrainian soldiers fight the Nazis.
Galina, who had never set foot outside Ukraine before coming to Ireland, only made the trip after making Luba promise to bring her back home when the war finished. Luba knew in her heart that Galina would only be going home in spirit but is keeping her promise by bringing her nana’s remains back to her hometown of Haivron to be buried beside Luba’s grandfather.
Mum-of-three Luba, who has lived in Ireland over 20 years, said: “Nana fought hard all her life through war and never gave up. Despite receiving palliative care for a number of months, she held on while my husband Eugene, my son Francis and I and volunteers made our last humanitarian trip to Ukraine.
“She promised she would wait until she got back and she did. She was always asking me to bring her home but I think in her heart, she knew that would never happen. She was too weak.
“I’m very thankful for the precious time we had with her here in Ireland and the time she spent with her great-grandchildren. My mam, my brother Misha and I, Eugene and my children Francis, 14, Hannah Rose, eight, three-year-old Harrison are heartbroken.
“I’m organising her funeral to take place in Trim on Friday.”