Jenny Gordeuk

Jenny D. Gordeuk VIRGINIA BEACH - Jenny Dimitriyevna Gordeuk was born March 14, 1915, in Prozorovo, Tver Province, Russia, and died Nov. 12, 2008, in Virginia Beach. She is survived by one sister, Elizabeth Lewshenia of Peoria, Ill.; five children, David A. Gordeuk of Hobe Sound, Fla., Victor R. Gordeuk of McLean, Va., Anita R. Brennan of Virginia Beach, Elizabeth R. Caine of Williamsburg, Va., and Nancy G. Kondas of Virginia Beach; and by her daughter-in-law, Diane Gordeuk of Port Matilda, Pa. She is also survived by 15 grandchildren. She was preceded in death by her husband, Stephen Gordeuk Jr. in 1999 and her son, Daniel in 2005. Jenny Gordeuk immigrated to the United States in September of 1929 with her parents, three brothers and four sisters. She worked for the Slavic Gospel Association for six years before marrying Stephen Gordeuk Jr. on June 9, 1946, in Beaver Dam, Wis., and lived in the State College, Pa., area for more than 50 years. She was a member of Brookside Wesleyan Church. After her marriage, Jenny Gordeuk continued to speak in many churches and Bible conferences regarding her family's escape from Stalinist Russia in 1929. She also produced a weekly radio program in the Russian language that was broadcast to Russia for more than 15 years. She appeared on the 700 Club on several occasions. In 1988, at the age of 73, she coordinated the sponsorship of five Russian Baptist refugee families to settle in the State College area, and this has resulted in the establishment of a Russian community and the Evangelical Russian Baptist Church in the area. She opened her heart and home to many throughout her life. Jenny extended hospitality to everyone she met from extended family and children's friends to ministers and missionaries. Her interests included baking, sewing, gardening, reading and outdoor activities. Visitation will be Sunday from 2 to 4 p.m. and 6 to 8 p.m. at Koch Funeral Home, 2401 S. Atherton St., State College, Pa. Her funeral will be Monday at 1 p.m. in the State College Christian and Missionary Alliance Church, 1221 West Whitehall Road, State College, with the Rev. David S. Janssen officiating. Burial will be in Oak Ridge Cemetery, Julian, Pa. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the Pacific Garden Mission, 1458 S. Canal Street, Chicago, IL 60607, or by going to their website, www.pgm.org.