Maria Slevinsky

Maria Slevinsky, age 89, beloved wife of the late Taras Slevinsky, passed away peacefully at St. Vincent Hospital on November 12, 2021 after a brief illness. Born in Pochayevych, Ukraine on January 14, 1932, she was the daughter of the late Mychajlo and Anna Bolonnyj, and the sister of the late Petro and Wolodymyr Bolonnyj. Even after her husband’s death on July 22, 2021, she continued to find pleasure and joy in the smallest of life’s treasures. However, the Lord in His wisdom answered her and Taras’ fervent prayers to leave this earth one shortly after the other and together exult Him in Paradise. Maria spent her childhood years in Pochayevych but together with her immediate family fled Ukraine under harrowing circumstances as a World War II refugee in 1944. The next 5 years were spent in displaced persons camps in Bamberg and Beireut, Germany. Having found sponsors in the United States, the family was able to resettle in Bridgeport, CT in 1949. In that same year she met the love of her life and future husband, Taras, also a Ukrainian refugee, whom she married in 1951 and with whom she happily celebrated their 70th wedding anniversary earlier this year on May 26, 2021. Maria worked factory jobs her entire working years while Taras worked as a baker. They lovingly raised 2 children— Christina (Walter) Kowinko and Roman (Saara) Slevinsky, providing them with life opportunities that they themselves as refugees were not able to pursue. They went on to lovingly play major roles in the upbringing of their 5 grandchildren: Lydia (husband Danylo Holowaty) Kowinko, Alex Kowinko, and Paul, Peter, and Mia Slevinsky. Maria rejoiced in the simple pleasures of life which were centered around her family, her church, and the opportunities to aid all those who needed help-friends and strangers alike.

Maria is also survived by several nieces and nephews and their families in the United States and Ukraine. She was deeply loved by her late husband, children and grandchildren and was highly respected by all who had the good fortune to know her. She was a woman of deep religious faith who consciously lived out the commandment, “Love thy neighbor as thyself.” She will be sorely missed by many but her spirit and legacy will continue on through those individuals whose lives she touched throughout her lifetime. Friends are invited to attend a wake on Thursday, November 18th from 4-7 p.m. with a Parastas service at 6 p.m. at the Adzima Funeral Home, 50 Paradise Green Place, Stratford, CT, and the funeral on Friday, November 19th at 10 a.m. at St. Mary’s Ukrainian Catholic Church, 457 Noble Avenue, Bridgeport, CT, Masks are required for all services. followed by a burial service at St. John’s Cemetery, 2610 Nichols Avenue, Stratford, CT. For those interested in doing so, memorial contributions may be made to St. Mary’s Ukrainian Catholic Church (see above address) or to UCEF (Ukrainian Catholic Education Fund, 2247 West Chicago Avenue, Chicago, Illinois, with a notation in the memo line to read “Orphan Fund.” For more information or to make an online condolence, please visit www.adzimafuneralhome.com