Skip to content
Call Us Today! 212-533-4646 | MON-FRI 12PM - 4PM (EST)
DONATE
SUBSCRIBE
Search for:
About Us
UNWLA 100
Publications
FAQ
Annual Report 2024
Annual Report 2023
Annual Report 2022
Annual Report 2021
Initiatives
Advocate
Educate
Cultivate
Care
News
Newsletters
Sign Up For Our Newsletter
Join UNWLA
Become a Member
Volunteer With Us
Donate to UNWLA
Members Portal
Shop to Support Ukraine
Search for:
Print
Print Page
Download
Download Page
Download Right Page
Open
1
2-3
4-5
6-7
8-9
10-11
12-13
14-15
16-17
18-19
20-21
22-23
24-25
26-27
28-29
30-31
32-33
34-35
36-37
38-39
40
НАШЕ ЖИТТЯ • Серпень 2025 35 ВІДІЙШЛА У ВІЧНІСТЬ • IN MEMORIAM Oresta Hamersky (1943–2025) Branch 17, Miami, FL Oresta Hamersky (née Pelensky) passed away on February 23, 2025, after a long battle with complications following surgery. She was born in L’viv Oblast, Ukraine, and like so many of her genera - tion, was forced to flee her home with her family at an early age. Af - ter weeks of traipsing through woods and forests, her family arrived at a Displaced Persons camp in Germany. While living in the camp, her mother and sister succumbed to tuberculosis. Brokenhearted yet for - tunate to be sponsored by relatives in the U.S., Oresta and her father relocated to Pittsburgh, PA, where she spent her formative years. One summer Oresta worked as a waitress at the Soyuzivka Ukrainian resort in the Catskill Mountains of New York, where she met her future husband Bohdan. They married and raised a beautiful family, which in - cludes two beloved daughters, a son-in-law, and two grandchildren. Oresta worked for United Airlines, which afforded her opportunities to see the world. However she acquired her spirit of wanderlust, her de - sire to travel and see the world was fulfilled by the benefits her career provided. Daughters Roma and Alexandra recount that their lives were filled with fun and excitement, taking trips all over the world. Once re - tired, Oresta continued this passion, always ready to pack up and go with her circle of dear friends. Following the passing of her husband, Oresta moved to Florida and joined Branch 17, where she quickly became a friend and valued Soyu- zianka. If she wasn’t involved directly, she offered her ideas and creativ - ity, always making a positive contribution to whatever we did. She spearheaded our 2018 Vyshyvani Vechornytsi gala, which served as a fundraiser for the UNWLA’s wounded warriors fund. Her vision and effective negotiating skills enabled us to hold a beautiful affair in a love - ly locale for a relatively affordable cost. This allowed us to make a more generous donation to the wounded soldiers than we might have oth - erwise. All branch members supported this effort, but it was Oresta’s impeccable taste and eye for the possible that made this a successful event. Oresta was also principally involved in co-hosting “An Evening with Andrea Chalupa” to promote the yet-to-be-released film Mr. Jones and co-chairing the silent auction for our 70th anniversary celebration at the Miami Shores Country Club. It is worth noting that Oresta was particularly adept at inviting friends and neighbors who were not members of our community, nor even Ukrainian in many cases. These guests added much to our celebrations, and this practice is worth cultivating among ourselves. Oresta’s contribution to our branch was invaluable. Her influence was quiet yet strong, creative and positive, lending a fresh perspective on how to approach traditional events. We are richer for having known her, and she left us way too soon. May her memory be eternal. Patricia Krysa, President, Branch 17, Miami, FL Dr. Anne Deaton is the founder and president of Children’s Grove, a Columbia, MO, non-profit that promotes kindness in youth and the community. She and her husband, Dr. Brady Deaton, founded the Deaton Institute in 2013 at the University of Missouri with the aim of eliminating extreme poverty and food insecurity globally. Her poem in support of the Ukrainian people “held a healing power for me in its writing,” she says. “I hope it might hold meaning for others.” Ukrainian Apologetics I saw Job today no one escapes his wailing he’s searching for justice, looking for life beneath massive debris and devastation I heard Job today pleading his case with the Almighty for righteousness for exhausted men, women, and children bewildered by the ruined fruit of their lives and labor I abandoned Job today no longer able to keep his faith or square evil’s existence in a world created by a benevolent God? and yet, and yet courage at every turn kindness where least expected prove Job’s case that out of darkness hope and faith arise by Anne Deaton
Page load link
Go to Top
1 
2-3 
4-5 
6-7 
8-9 
10-11 
12-13 
14-15 
16-17 
18-19 
20-21 
22-23 
24-25 
26-27 
28-29 
30-31 
32-33 
34-35 
36-37 
38-39 
40 
