Obituary of Maria Kornylo

MARIA KORNYLO was born on January 14, 1923, in Smerekowiec, Poland to parents, Matvey and Yefrozina Bodyk. She was raised in the Carpathian Mountains in a farming community. Her schooling included coursework in both Polish and Ukrainian languages. When WW II broke out, she left her home and went to work in farm orchards in Heidelberg, Germany. There she was married and gave birth to two sons Stefan and Wasyl. As war refugees, Maria and her husband Petro, emigrated to the US in 1949, and worked off voyage debt as farm laborers on a farm in Baltimore, Md. The family moved to Rochester in 1952 and became active members of the Ukrainian community. Maria gave birth to a third son, John Kornylo in 1955. The couple purchased their dream house in 1957 and settled into a community with a Ukrainian Church nearby. Every Sunday was a holiday after church with Maria doing the prep and cooking up a storm of Ukrainian favorites like: Pierogis, Cabbage Rolls, Sauerkraut, Sausage, Roast beef roulade, Borsch, or fresh chicken noodle soup, and honey cake for dessert. Immediate family, as well as occasional guests were in attendance at the dining room table for these weekly get together socials. She was a Mother, wife, grandmother, great grandmother, aunt, godmother, super neighbor and Ukrainian community supporter of humanitarian, social and religious rights. Maria was one of the founding members of Ukrainian Catholic Church of the Epiphany as well as a founding member of St Olga's Sisterhood at the church. She volunteered for over 50 years doing church sisterhood duties such as cooking, kitchen maintenance, laundering and ironing of vestments and other church paraphernalia. Maria was also a founding member, as well as a lifetime financial supporter of the Ukrainian Home of Rochester, now renamed, the Ukrainian Cultural Center. A Greek Catholic Christian belief guided her during her long life. Her religion gave her strength to be what she was and what she accomplished. Love, Patience, Forgiveness and hard work were her strong qualities and her heart was always open and caring for others in in need. She was very generous throughout her life, supporting her church, family, neighbors and community. Her family will receive friends Sunday, September 27, 1:00 - 4:00pm at the funeral home (570 Kings Highway So.),Panachyda 3:30pm. Her Divine Liturgy will be held Monday, September 28th, 10:00am at Ukrainian Catholic Church of Epiphany, (202 Carter St). All COVID-19 protocols will be observed, masks are required. In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to "House of Mercy" 285 Ormond St, Rochester, NY 14605, or, Ukrainian Cultural Center, 1040 Jackson Rd, 14580. Interment Holy Sepulchre Cemetery.