Lidia Tkachenko

1932-2015

Lidia Tkachenko passed away on Sunday, May 3, 2015, in Houston. Lidia was born on January 12, 1932, in Radkov, Belarus, U.S.S.R. to Filip and Solomeya Matsukevich. She and her family were captured and lived in work camps in Germany during World War II, and were displaced persons in Germany after the war. Immigrating to the United States in 1950 through New Orleans, Lidia lived with her family in Kansas City for a short period until she moved to New York City. There she married Vladimir Tkachenko and resided in the boroughs of Brooklyn and Staten Island until moving to Houston after her first grandchild was born. Lidia was an outgoing friend, loving mother and grandmother, and devout member of her Russian Orthodox Church. She is known to many in Houston as “babushka” since she was so actively involved with her grandchildren, who adored her.

Lidia was preceded in death by her husband, Vladimir; two brothers and a sister. She is survived by her daughter, Victoria Tkachenko Sharp and her husband David; and grandchildren, Katherine and Daniel Sharp. She is also survived by two brothers and two sisters, her brother and sister-in-law, and many nieces and nephews.

Visitation with the family is from 6 to 8 pm on Thursday, May 7, at Geo. H. Lewis & Sons, 1010 Bering Drive in Houston.

The funeral service is at 9:15 am on Friday, May 8, at St. Vladimir Orthodox Church, 24 Tidwell Road, in Houston. The interment will follow at Houston National Cemetery.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to St. Vladimir Orthodox Church, 24 Tidwell Road, Houston, Texas 77022, for the Altar Beautification Project; or to the Lewy Body Dementia Association, www. lbda.org.