Natalia Lazirko

Natalia Lazirko passed away peacefully at the age of 96 on November 7th, 2017. She was born on September 4th, 1921 in Stara Sil, Ukraine. As a post-war immigrant displaced from Ukraine, she resided in Germany as a refugee. She then emigrated to the United States and arrived at Ellis Island on November 8th, 1949, Election Day. Due to the national holiday, she had to stay on the ship until November 9th, when she entered the United States for the first time. Natalia traveled to Ohio to reconnect with her brother that had emigrated to the United States earlier. She then moved to New Jersey to reunite with her soon-to-be husband Anthony Lazirko. There they opened up their original meat market in Newark, NJ in 1952. After a few years, they opened a second store in Irvington, NJ, home to Olympic Park. Together they built a successful business and started a family: their daughter, Natalka Lazirko Farrell, born in 1955, followed by their son Oleh Lazirko, born in 1957. She spent the last 54 years doing what she loved: working at Olympic Community Market with her son, Oleh. She ran daily operations and enjoyed talking to every customer, brightening their day with her sense of humor and positivity. She made an impression on everyone she met; whether she had known them for 5 minutes or 50 years. Her radiant personality resonated with everyone she encountered. She taught everyone to live their life to the fullest and always remember to laugh no matter what. Natalia was predeceased by her husband, Anthony. She is survived by her sister, Stephanie, her daughter Natalka Lazirko Farrell, son Oleh Lazirko, daughter-in-law Anna Lazirko and grandchildren Chrystyna Lazirko, Ivanka Farrell and Andrew Lazirko.