Born - February 5 1928
Died - February 18, 2009

Life is a journey that we travel with our hearts open, with the wind in our back always pushing us forward to our destiny.

Our father’s journey ended Wednesday when his heart stopped beating,
but his love and devotion to his family, his friends and his native homeland will never be forgotten by those who knew and loved him.

He started his life in Jawirnik, a small village at the edge of the Carpathian Mountains in Lemkivschyna, where he was raised to respect and love the beautiful traditions of his Ukrainian Lemko heritage. Even though his family survived World War II, the end of the war brought changes to his life that would shape the man he would become. Having lost his mother at an early age, our dad, along with two older sisters, two younger sisters and a younger brother were raised by a strict loving father and hard working step-mother. His father was active in the village life, he served as mayor of the town for several years. At age 17, our dad's family was once again torn when he lost his father tragically.

In 1947, the Poles enacted Akcja Visla, where Ukrainian Lemko families were deported from their homeland. Dad witnessed the destruction of his beloved Jawirnik. Memories that he never forgot, memories that tore at his heart and shaped the man he became. Dad's family packed what little belonging they had and were deported to what was the German town of Angerberg. Today is known as Wergozewo, Poland. There he started his own family with his childhood sweetheart, Anastazia. after some years, god blessed them with a daughter. Though the good times were sweet, they were short. Misfortune once again struck and he lost his wife during the childbirth of their son. Six months later his son, Michal, joined his mother to rest in eternal peace in this foreign land.

Dad was not a man to give up on life. With the help of his mother-in-law and sister-in-law he found courage and determination to make a better life for his daughter. Happiness came once more when he was fortunate that his new love, Olia, accepted his hand in marriage. They married in January of 1960. Set on new horizons, they applied and waited two years before they could immigrate to the United States, where his oldest sister and uncle were living. He settled in Auburn, NY in 1962, where his son was born and where together, he and his wife worked hard to achieve their dreams.

A sweet and sensitive man, he raised his children not only to be proud of their heritage, but to also be sensitive to the hardships of others; as he had lived through so much of his own pain and tragedy in those early years. He also instilled in his children the same love and devotion for their Ukrainian heritage that meant so much to him though out his life.

He never stopped thinking about those early years in Jawirnik, and the memories of those childhood days, but the better years of his life were lived in Auburn, where he worked hard and raised his children. In 1964, he became a member of the Organization for the Defense of Lemkivschyna. of which he was president for over 20 years. In his spare time, he served his community, organizing Ukrainian cultural events in Upstate New York; active in SS Peter and Paul Ukrainian Catholic Church community; and active in home-schooling his children in Ukrainian language, history, geography and music. In Auburn is where he could live proudly as a Ukrainian American.

Dad also loved to tell stories about his life's adventures, of which he had many. He loved to tell jokes, to laugh and truly enjoyed and basked in the company of others. He loved all aspects of his Ukrainian heritage; poetry, dance, opera, orchestra and the Lemko vatra. He was a man who was creative and talented with his hands; and a man opinionated in his politics who enjoyed a spirited debate.

He loved his wife, his children, his grandchildren, his sisters and brothers, his nieces and nephews, his cousins and all his dear friends. Family was most important to him and he did all he could for those who asked for his help.

We are fortunate that he was with for so long, and though we would have wished for him more years, we are grateful that our children knew him and loved him, and he will forever live in our hearts and our memories.

Mychaylo is survived by
His loving wife, Olhia of 49 years
His loving children, Marijka and Michael, and his wife Stephanka
His loving grandchildren, Theadore, Maksym, Brianna and Ivan
His step-mother, Teklya who raised him
His loving sisters, Maria Hawuczyk, Anna Szaryj, Eva Barniak, Anastazia Stan, Maria Feschuk and brother Stefan and their families
His brother in law, Vladimir Szaryj and his wife Maria and their famalies
His sister in laws Maria Szaryj Babiak and her husband, Mytro
His sister in law, Teklya Szaryj Lyko and her extended family
His svat and svata Peter and Mary Kushnir of Montreal
His loving nieces and nephews and their famalies
His loving cousins from all over the world
His loving friends who he cherished.