Mykola John Duda

It is with extreme sadness that we announce the unexpected passing of Mykola John Duda, 26, into the arms of his Lord on Christmas Eve, December 24, 2021 in Pompano Beach, Florida.
Mykola was born on October 6, 1995, in Zhytomyr, Ukraine. He and an infant girl, Teresa Julianna, came to the United States with their adoptive parents, Peter and Oksana Duda in August, 1998.
Mykola attended school in Pearl River, NY and graduated from the Pearl River High School in 2014. He loved sports, especially soccer, was great at ping pong and even competed in wrestling matches. He also enjoyed swimming in our pool and at Lake George during the summer and spending time on the Florida beaches. Though he liked skiing, Mykola preferred the warmth of the sun more than the cold of winter.
Looking back at his life, he seldom sat still. He was a member of three different soccer teams (Pearl River High School, Orangetown Mighty Midgets and Krylati Ukrainian American Youth Association Soccer team) at the same time and never missed a game. He was active in Ukrainian community groups in Spring Valley, NY and Yonkers, NY. He studied Ukrainian dancing, performed and worked at numerous festivals and attended summer camps. Mykola attended the School of Ukrainian Studies from where he graduated and earned his Matura in 2012. His friends at Lincoln Avenue Elementary School thought it was "cool" that Mykola could speak "in Code" (in Ukrainian, of course!) to his mother and sister. He also loved his sister very dearly and lovingly called her "Teresychka".
Mykola certainly packed a lot of living into such a short life. He loved hanging out and joking around with friends. He was easy to like and those who got to truly know him, knew he had a big and generous heart. He enjoyed eating, especially his mother's home-cooked meals and muffins and complained about not being able to gain weight, a problem that many of us wish we had. He was adventurous and fearless and as a young boy, Mykola climbed 70-80 feet high in a Norwegian Spruce in our back yard and was still climbing. As a toddler, he also managed to climb up a ladder and get on the roof of his grandparents' house! While on vacation, we were caught in a sudden squall on Lake George in a 14 foot aluminum boat and almost sank under the big waves. Fearless Mykola was smiling and laughing the whole way back to the dock and thinking it was a great ride! He loved collecting snow-globes as souvenirs commemorating his adventures and trips.
Mykola loved working out in the gym. He was into nutrition and body-building. In Florida, Mykola worked as a certified personal trainer, a skill which was affected by the pandemic. Later he tried his hand at many things, looking for that special job or skill which would carry him with enthusiasm and joy through the rest of his life. Mykola was most recently working as a landscaper and was to start a new job after the New Year, learning carpentry. He was optimistic and excited about this change and was hoping to apply these new skills to flipping houses. He had a wonderful new life ahead of him and a new start on life. He was loved by many and we will miss him immensely.
"You never said I'm leaving, you never said goodbye.
You were gone before we knew it, and only God knew why.
In life we loved you dearly; in death we love you still.
In our hearts you hold a place that no one could ever fill.
It broke our hearts to lose you, but you didn't go alone.
For part of us went with you, the day God took you home." Author Unknown.
Mykola is survived by his father Peter, mother Oksana, sister Teresa, and maternal grandparents Wasyl and Anna Werbowsky. He is also survived by numerous uncles, aunts and cousins here in the United States and in Ukraine.
Arrangements are entrusted to Joseph W. Sorce Funeral Home, 34 N. Summit St., Pearl River, NY 10965.
Viewing is scheduled for Thursday, December 30, 2021 from 4:00 to 8:00 p.m. Panachyda service will be at 7:00 pm.
Funeral will be at Ss. Peter & Paul Ukrainian Catholic Church, 39 Collins Ave., Spring Valley, NY 10977 on Friday, December 31, 2021 at 10:00 am.
Burial to follow at Holy Spirit Ukrainian Catholic Cemetery, 141 Sarah Wells Trail, Campbell Hall, NY 10916.
Donations in Mykola's name can be made to Ss. Peter & Paul Ukrainian Catholic Church Capital Fund.