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Nellie Federkiewicz (1920-2007) Nellie Federkiewicz, daughter of the late Frank and Anastasia (Wysocka) Sharkiewicz, was bom in Hartford, Connecticut, in February 1920. She graduated from Hartford Public High School in 1937 and then from Morse Business College, with high academic honors. After graduating from Morse, Nell began to look for employment in a business environment. Like many children of im migrants, she encountered some difficulties with would be employers who were uncomfortable with foreign sounding names and were often reluctant to hire people who were “different.” Finding it was impossible to get the kind of office job she wanted, Nell decided to shorten and Americanize Sharkie wicz and became Miss Sharkey. As Miss Sharkey, she soon found employment and went on to become a successful career woman. Before retiring in 1980, she served for many years as administrative sec retary to the CEO of Swift & Sons and then as administrative secretary to the superintendent of Cedarcrest Hospital. Nell was an energetic woman who enjoyed new experiences, travel, physical activity, and help ing people. She liked taking walks, sometimes riding a bus to the end of the line and walking back home. Each time, she took a different route so she could see different sites. Nell also loved motor cycles and, much to her mother’s chagrin, happily accepted friends’ invitations to ride as a passenger behind the driver. In later years she studied and practiced yoga, an interest she continued as long as she was physically able. During World War II, Nell served her country as an air-raid warden and as a frequent blood donor. Work and wartime responsibilities, however, did not prevent her from enjoying life, and she spent some of her leisure time learning to roller skate. Once she mastered skating, she learned how to dance on skates and began competing in local ice-dancing events. In 1957, Nell married Theodore (Ted) Federkiewicz. One of their greatest joys was taking motor trips together. Until Ted’s death in 1985, they toured the United States and Canada. During her life, Nell was involved with many different organizations. She was an active member of the National Secretary’s Association and often volunteered her time in schools, with senior citizens, at the local library, and at her church. Always eager to learn, she enrolled in a wide variety of courses that enhanced her cultural, edu cational, and financial knowledge. One of Nell’s great interests was Ukraine. When her mother, Anastasia, expressed concern that most people in the United States knew nothing about Ukraine, Nell listened. She translated her mother’s words and thoughts into English and submitted them as articles to local papers. She and her mother also contributed books on Ukraine to the Hartford Public Library. Nell was a member of the UNWLA for many years. She first joined Hartford’s UNWLA Branch 93; when the branch dissolved, she joined Branch 106. When she became ill and could no longer attend meetings, branch members stayed in touch. When I visited her in the nursing home, one of the first questions she asked was “What is happening in the Ukrainian community?” Her re sponse to my accounts of recent events and activi ties was always the same: She would be strong enough to participate again next year. Unfortunately, Nell left us on June 9, 2007. She will be sorely missed but happily remembered as a good friend who found joy in giving to others. She was a generous supporter of the Ukrainian National Woman’s League of America, the World Affairs Council, the Ukrainian Museum of New York, and the Children of Chomobyl Fund. —Rose Worobel
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