Olga Maria Lukiw

Olia Lukiw, of Glen Spey, NY, died peacefully on October 7, 2022, after bravely battling cancer.

The daughter of Ukrainian immigrants–Bohdana and Evhen Hrycaj–Olia was born on August 26, 1950, in Buenos Aires, Argentina. Although she came to the United States at ten years old, she preserved and celebrated her Spanish and Ukrainian culture throughout her life.

On April 23, 1978, Olia married Ihor in St. John’s Ukrainian Catholic Church, Newark, NJ and raised three loving children—Danusia, Roman, and Laryssa–within a close-knit Ukrainian community in New Jersey.

Olia will forever be remembered as a devoted wife and wonderful mother who loved her children fearlessly. She instilled in them her religious beliefs and moral values, taking care to pass on the Ukrainian and Spanish traditions that were important to her. Her greatest joy was spending time with her grandchildren, offering them a special kind of love that only comes from a “babtsia,” aka grandmother.

One of Olia’s favorite pastimes was cooking for her family and friends. From making her famous empanadas for her children to preparing feasts whenever friends visited, Olia made sure that no one ever left the Lukiw home hungry. In fact, they probably left 10lbs heavier and a lot happier. From her active role in the Ukrainian National Women’s League of America Branch #75 to volunteering to make pierogies in the church hall, Olia was a selfless member of her community who committed herself to others.

Despite her battle with cancer, Olia never stopped smiling. She loved to sing, dance, and laugh, even when her children lovingly pulled pranks on her and Ihor. She was a strong, resilient woman with compassion for all and malice towards none. A truly kind, caring, and beautiful woman, Olia will be forever missed and never forgotten.

Olia is survived by her husband Ihor and their children, Danusia and husband Oleh Chernyk; Roman and wife Diana Lukiw; Laryssa and husband Justin Blount; and grandchildren Viktoria, Maximilian, Liliana, and Amelia.

Visitation will be held at Union Funeral Home-Lytwyn & Grillo (1600 Stuyvesant Ave., Union, NJ 07083) on Tuesday, October 11, from 5:00-9:00 pm (Parastas at 7 pm).

The funeral will be Wednesday, October 12 at 10 am at St. John the Baptist Ukrainian Catholic Church (719 Sanford Ave, Newark, NJ 07106), followed by a burial at St. Andrew Ukrainian Orthodox Cemetery (280 Main St, South Bound Brook, NJ 08880).