Maria Krysa

Maria Krysa (nee Właszynowicz), age 83, passed away peacefully at home, surrounded by her children, on March 8, 2022 in Brooklyn, OH.

She was preceded in death by loving husbands, Teodor Babij (married 1957-1962) and Vasyl Krysa (married 1973-2004).

Loving mother of Andrzej Babij, Daria Babij-Frasher (David), Pavlo Krysa (Oksana), Ania Krysa (Orest). Cherished grandmother of Alexander, Bohdan, Eva, Andriy, and Luka. Dear sister of the late Jarosław Właszynowicz (Maria), and the late Sophia Petryszyn (Roman).

Maria was born on May 8, 1938 to Ivan and Natalia Właszynowicz in Kornie, Poland, a mostly Ukrainian village along the Ukrainian-Polish border. She and her family survived Operation Vistula (Polish - Akcja Wisła; Ukrainian - Опера́ція «Ві́сла») in 1947 when Ukrainian families in her village were forcibly removed from their homes by the Polish government and resettled into Northern Poland. As a young girl, she attended school in the township of Żelazna Góra. She married Teodor Babij in 1957 in Jarocin and moved west to Koszalin where they welcomed their two children, Andrzej and Daria before Teodor's untimely passing in 1962. As a widow, Maria completed her Associate’s Degree and worked in the Koszalin region’s goods distribution office to support her family. In 1972, she sought a better life and emigrated with her children to the United States, landing in Cleveland, Ohio. Maria married her second husband Vasyl Krysa in 1973, welcoming a son, Pavlo, and daughter, Ania. She became active in the local Ukrainian community, teaching children at Ridna Shkola, a Ukrainian Saturday school and was a founding parishioner of Pokrova Ukrainian Catholic Church. Maria centered her life and her family’s life around the church, regularly attending services, being an active member of the church’s Sisterhood, shepherding her children in many church activities, and raising funds by donating her delicious baked goods and her time to make varenyky. In addition to raising four children, she was passionate about Ukrainian embroidery and passing the traditions of Ukrainian cooking to her daughters. Her Napoleon torte was exquisite and admired by all. Maria was a naturally talented gardener, growing vegetables and cultivating her collection of roses, peonies and many other beautiful flowers.

Family and Friends received at HOLOWCHAK FUNERAL HOME; 5548 State Rd Parma OH 44134 on Sunday March 13, 2022 from 5:00 to 7:00 PM with Parastas at 7:00 PM. Funeral Services Monday March 14, 2022 at Pokrova Ukrainian Catholic Church; 6812 Broadview Rd Parma OH 44134 at 11:30 AM. Interment at Pokrova Ukrainian Catholic Cemetery. PLEASE MEET AT CHURCH

In lieu of flowers, donations can be made in Maria’s memory to:

Pokrova Ukrainian Catholic Church 6812 Broadview Road, Parma, OH 44134

or

World Central Kitchen
In light of the Russian aggression in Ukraine, donations can be made to World Central Kitchen who is on the ground in Ukraine and at Ukraine’s borders providing hot, home cooked meals to families fleeing violence. Maria was a proud Ukrainian mom who loved taking care of her family with delicious food. We think this cause represents her values and would be close to her heart.

Learn more about this organization’s work in Ukraine: https://wck.org/en-us/relief/activation-chefs-for-ukraine

You can donate online here: https://donate.wck.org/give/236738/#!/donation/checkout