Larysa Waciega-Moscow

Obituary: Larysa Waciega-Moscow (née Imber)

Born May 1, 1936 - Died July 21, 2025

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Early Life and Survival

Larysa Imber was born in Warsaw, Poland, in 1936. At age three her parents, Sane and Syma Imber and Larysa made their way to a Siberian work camp in the Ural Mountains of Russia, to escape the unimaginable horrors of the Holocaust. Though a harrowing experience which she recounted on occasion later in life, she and her parents survived. In 1945, she returned to Poland, her spirit unbroken.

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Education and Family Beginnings

In her early 20s Larysa enrolled at Warsaw University, earning a master's degree in economics. There fortune smiled upon her when she met the love of her life, Casimir Waciega, the man who would become her husband, and father to their only child, Mark. Their partnership, founded on shared values and mutual respect, laid the groundwork for a lifetime of love and support.

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Journey to America and Career

In 1969, at the age of thirty-four, a second upheaval occurred in her life - Larysa and her family were forced to leave Poland. Through her unwavering determination and vision Larysa was the driving force which steered the family to their ultimate destination - the United States of America. The family immigrated to the Philadelphia area, eager to embrace new opportunities and freedoms. Through courage and with great optimism she rapidly adapted to a new language, a new culture, and a new career as a physical therapist. She worked tirelessly, supported her family, and quickly made a multitude of lifelong friends. Later in life, Larysa changed her focus to international business, where she managed multiple ventures. After the untimely death of Casimir in 1996 Larysa eventually remarried to John Moscow.

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Personal Passions and Devotion

Larysa unwaveringly believed that life was meant to be lived fully and eagerly. Her greatest passions included:

- Travel: It would not be an exaggeration to say Larysa lived to travel. She explored a multitude of countries on five continents, always returning with new stories and perspectives.

- Lifelong Learning: Enlightenment, education, literature, and art were pursuits Larysa valued most.

- Family Time: Devoted to her loved ones, she hosted countless gatherings, weaving traditions that her descendants continue today. She loved dancing, and great food, being an excellent cook herself. Her grandson Eric wrote this about her: "I will forever miss her exuberance while she shared stories from her life...To Bambi, thank you for being an inspiration to me to always stick to my values, believe in myself, and enjoy the wealth of experiences this world has to offer".

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Legacy and Survivors

Larysa's warmth, wisdom, and resilience touched everyone she met. She is survived by her grateful son, Mark, grandchildren, Alex, Eric and Cassi, and her loving, devoted and ever-supportive brother Victor, who carry forward her legacy of courage and curiosity.

Her memory will live on in the lessons she taught, the journeys she took, and the love she shared with all who knew her.