Katarvna Szwanyk of Westhampton Beach died November 3 at her home. She was 89.
Born July 7, 1924, in a small agricultural village in southwestern Ukraine, she was the eldest of eight children of Danvlo Hurtz and Maria Stvrenchv. She completed three grades in a Polish-dominated elementary school where most instruction was in Polish and about one hour a day was devoted to instruction in the Ukrainian language. While her parents worked in the fields, Ms. Szwanyk supervised seven younger siblings.
During World War II, she married Wasyl Szwanyk. In 1941, she and her husband traveled to southern Germany, where they worked on farms. In September 1943, her son John was born in Germany. When the war ended, she and her family were interned in a Displaced Persons camp in Germany, where her second son, James, was born in September 1946. The family remained in the camp until 1949, when they were given the choice of emigrating either to the United States or South America. They were invited and sponsored by her husband’s sister, Mary, who was residing with her husband, Wasyl Bandrowski, in Westhampton Beach, to come to the U.S.
On June 2, 1949, the Szwanyks arrived, penniless, in Boston, aboard the USS General Muir. The family lived on the Bandrowski dairy farm for several months before moving to a small home in Quiogue. Mr. Szwanyk rode an old bicycle to work as a landscaper whenever work was available. Ms. Szwanyk worked as a domestic, riding a bicycle to work with young James on her lap. It was a difficult time for the family because work was hard to find and the English language a challenge. Although their house was small, they sponsored two other families from their native country to live with them in Quiogue.
After about a year, the family moved to another small rental home, near the Westhampton Beach train station. The home had a coal-burning stove, but no indoor running water or indoor toilets.
Ms. Szwanyk continued to work for many years as a domestic and frequently took evening English classes in English. Her husband eventually found work with the Village of Westhampton Beach Department of Public Works. Both sons graduated from Westhampton Beach High School and went on to obtain college degrees.
Ms. Szwanyk and her husband were very active in St. John the Baptist Ukrainian Catholic Church in Riverhead, singing in the choir and participating in the maintenance and activities of the church, especially the annual chicken barbecue.
Ms. Szwanyk visited her native country in 1973 and 1998. Mr. Szwanyk died in March 1990.
She is survived by two sons, John and James.
Visitation was held at the Follett and Werner Funeral Home in Westhampton Beach on November 5. A funeral Mass was said at the St. John the Baptist Roman Catholic Ukrainian Church in Riverhead on November 6. Interment followed at Westhampton Cemetery.
on Nov 11, 2013