Ewhenia Kulynycz, 92, of Princess Anne, passed away peacefully in her home on May 4, 2015 with her family at her side.
"Gene" was born on September 7, 1922 (though her birth date was incorrectly documented as April 24 of that year) in Lyubech, Ukraine, the daughter of the late Dmitro Zwonok and the late Teodosia Zwonok Nesterenko, and step-daughter of the late Mikita Nesterenko. While her widowed mother worked to provide for their family, Gene helped to care for her three brothers during difficult times before and during World War II. At the age of 21, Gene and her mother had to leave their homeland with the departing German soldiers, who put them to work on a farm in Germany. When the war ended, they went to a displaced persons camp in Mittenwald, Germany, where Gene later met and married her late husband, Serhij.
In 1949, Gene, her husband, and their young son Michael came to the US to start a new life. They worked for a time in Mississipi and Louisiana, then moved north to Cleveland, OH to be closer to the Ukrainian community there. In 1959 they moved again and settled in Princess Anne, MD, where they farmed and raised poultry for many years.
Gene devoted her life to her family and her many friends. In addition to her son Michael Kulynycz and his wife, Lorraine, she leaves behind a daughter, Nellie Overholt, and a son, Victor Kulynycz and his wife, Trudi. She also leaves eight beloved grandchildren and their spouses: Laura Overholt, Ben Overholt (Jen), Erin Price (Mike), Ryan Kulynycz (Pam), Rachel Bedsworth (James), Maribeth Kulynycz, Sara Ramsey (Chad), and Luke Kulynycz. In her later years Gene was also blessed with seven great-grandchildren: Aidan Johnson, Wyatt Price, and Hudson Price; Nick and Paxton Bailey; Sophia Overholt; and Ava Bedsworth.
Gene was preceded in death by her husband, Serhij Kulynycz, and her son-in-law, Lloyd Overholt, as well as her three brothers who were lost in World War II: Pavlo Yezepa, Vacil Yezepa, and Mikola Zwonok.
Ewhenia came to the US due to circumstances beyond her control, but "little by little" she carved out a new life for her family and grew to love her new home country. She will be remembered by all who knew her as a hard-working, independent woman who enjoyed taking care of her family and friends. She loved to bake and cook, known for her borscht, her varenyky (pierogis), her cheesecake, and the many, many pecan cookies she baked and shared each Christmas. She was proud of her home, and for as long as she could, she was often to be seen on her riding lawn mower or watering her beautiful flowers. Her lively stories of life in the Ukraine and here in the US have enriched many, and will never be forgotten.
Ewhenia's life will be celebrated at Hinman's Funeral Home in Princess Anne on Saturday, May 9 at 11:00 am. Friends may call an hour before the service for the viewing. Father Michael Lokey will officiate. Interment will be at Wicomico Memorial Park in Salisbury.
In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to Holy Trinity Ukrainian Orthodox Church, c/o Tony Kavar, Box 44, Circle Rd., Whaleyville, MD 21872; St. Paul's Episcopal Church, c/o Martin Atkins, 26417 Silver Lane, Crisfield, MD 21871; or to Coastal Hospice, PO Box 1733, Salisbury, MD 21804.