Kateryna Serhiyenko

Kateryna Serhiyenko passed away suddenly on February 21, 2026 from complications of a rare autoimmune condition called Adult Onset Still's Disease. She was 29 years old.

Kateryna was born in Novhorod-Siverskyi, Ukraine. From early childhood, she was joyful, energetic, and endlessly optimistic. Beginning in kindergarten, she sang and captivated everyone with her remarkable voice. Throughout her school years, she participated in numerous creative competitions, earned many awards, and was actively involved in school projects. She graduated with honors, receiving a gold medal.

In 2013, Kateryna enrolled at Kyiv National Economic University, where she studied International Economics. While living and studying in Kyiv, she dreamed of continuing her education abroad. After earning her Bachelor of Science in 2016, she moved to the United States. In 2017, she began studying Event Management at the University of Central Florida's Rosen College of Hospitality Management.

In 2020, Kateryna joined BigMarker, where she quickly distinguished herself as the company's first Product Manager. She helped lead the development of innovative products and was at the forefront of using emerging technologies, including artificial intelligence. She always had big ideas and even bigger ambitions-reaching for the stars in everything she did.

Kateryna fell in love with Chicago, and in 2021 she met her future husband, Kevin, through alumni of their shared alma mater, UCF. They were married in 2025, just ten months before her passing.

Kateryna had many dear friends, because wherever she went, she brought warmth and light. She was kind, sincere, intelligent, brave, ambitious, and always ready to help others. She loved life deeply and gave back whenever she could-supporting her community in Chicago and, especially, those in Ukraine.

Beloved wife of Kevin Kulbacki; Proud and loving dog-mom to Watson; Adored daughter of Sergii and Larysa Serhiyenko and daughter-in-law of Peter and Diane Kulbacki; Caring sister of Nataliya and sister-in-law of Dmytro; Inspiration in her field; Friend to all who knew her. She is survived by her paternal grandparents, many aunts, uncles, and cousin in Ukraine, along with all those who loved her in Kevin's family.

A visitation will be held on Wednesday, February 25, 2026, from 4-8pm at Smith-Corcoran Funeral Home, 6150 N. Cicero Ave., Chicago. Family and friends are encouraged to meet Thursday, February 26 for a funeral service at 12:30pm at St. Volodymyr Ukrainian Orthodox Cathedral, 2250 W. Cortez St., Chicago, IL 60622. Please meet at 2:00 pm inside the cemetery gates of Graceland Cemetery. For info, 773-736-3833.

Memorial contributions to help advance Still's disease research will be announced in the coming days. Please continue to check the funeral home website and social media channels for more information.