Anna Pankiw

ANNA PANKIW age 89, passed away Tuesday, June 10, 2014. Preceded in death by her beloved husband Stefan, parents Marunia and Ilko Storonianski and brothers Stefan and Ivan. Survived by her caregiver and very loving daughter, Mary. During WWII, Hitler sent seventeen year old Anna, one of one and a half million Ukrainian women to Germany to work as forced slave labor. For seven years she toiled on a farm enduring much hardship and starvation. There she met and married a fellow Ukrainian and gave birth to their daughter, Mary. When the baby contracted whooping cough, Anna, a young mother, adamantly defied authorities by refusing to relinquish her child choosing instead to nurse her back to health herself at home. She was the best mother: generous, kind, selfless, patient and my very best friend. Mama, thank you for your sacrifices for my education. You were my best teacher and I will miss and love you always. Friends may call at THE KOLODIY-LAZUTA FUNERAL HOME, 5677 STATE RD., PARMA FRIDAY 5-7 P.M. PARASTAS 6 P.M. Funeral Liturgy Saturday, June 14 at St. Andrew Ukrainian Catholic Church at 11 a.m. (PLEASE MEET AT CHURCH). Interment St. Andrew Cemetery.