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Our Life | Наше життя February | Лютий 2021 35 As the old gypsy approached the mother standing in the doorway, she studied little Stefania playing at her feet. “Enjoy your daughter now,” the gypsy said, “because you won’t have her long.” Nazi Germany occupied Ukraine during World War II, forcing one person from every household to go to Germany as forced labor, since all their young men were in the service. Her mother was pregnant; not wanting her father to leave, Stefania, now 13, said she would go. After all, she knew how to speak a little German by then. For three days and nights they traveled in a train cattle car with very little food or water. Arriving in Augsburg, the women were separated from the men, had to disrobe, and stood along the wall in a large room for medical examination. She always thought it was humorous that when the doctors entered, they all had to stand, bow, and greet them with “Good morning, Herr Doctor!” She was sent to work on a dairy farm in the village of Ratzenried. Cold, tired, hungry, she entered the kitchen of the farmhouse. When the farmer’s daughter saw her, she threw down the broom she was using and said “Here! You sweep!” And thus, Stefania’s new life began. The old gypsy was right – 28 years would pass before Stefania saw her mother and Ukraine again. When the war ended, Augsburg was lucky to be in the American Zone of partitioned Germany. She stayed there five more years, married her beloved husband Teodozyj Oleksyn, and had two daughters, Nadia and Vera. Immigrating to the United States in 1950, the family settled in Rochester, New York. Three sons fol - lowed – Lubomyr, Stepan, and Andrew. Ted worked the day shift at Gleason’s Gear Factory, and Stefania worked the night shift at Gerber’s Baby Foods. As active members of the Ukrainian community, they attended St. Josephat’s Ukrainian Catholic Church, CYM where the girls were in the mandolin orchestra, singing in the choir and learning Ukrainian dancing. She taught them to love their Ukrainian heritage, the language, the his - tory, the music. She taught them to love America and all the freedom and opportunities that they had. Living the American dream, Ted and Stefania pur - chased their own business, the Four Brothers Tavern on Hudson Avenue. The children worked in the busi - ness also, doing the cleaning, eventually bartending and helping their mother in the kitchen with Friday Fish Fry! They learned the value of hard work and re - sponsibility. In 1972 Ted and Stefania purchased the Odessa Res - taurant and Lounge in Phoenix, Arizona. They moved mainly because the Arizona heat helped with her ar - thritis. Eventually their children joined them, one by one. Over twenty years, they all worked together, marrying, raising their families, until the business was sold, allowing Ted and Stefania to finally retire. Joining Branch 3 in Phoenix, she received her certificate as an active 50-year member of the UNWLA. Ted passed away in 1995. Stefania passed suddenly but peace - fully on July 5, 2020. Her family and friends will truly miss her love and guidance. Vichnaya Pamyat! Vera Oleksyn-Hoerner, Branch 3, Phoenix, AZ Stefania Oleksyn Branch 3, Phoenix, AZ IN MEMORIAM
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