Maria Horbenko Obituary

FOX RIVER GROVE - Maria Horbenko, 99, passed away Sunday, June 7, 2009, at her home in Fox River Grove.

She was the beloved wife of the late Borys; loving mother of Nina (the late Wasyl) Dubina, Nadia (the late Victor) Parenchenkova, Katia (Alex) Danylevsky, Dmitri (Maria) Horbenko and George (Helen) Horbenko; cherished grandmother of 15; great-grandmother of 18; and dear aunt and great-aunt of many.

The visitation will be from 4 to 9 p.m. Wednesday, June 10, with a 7 p.m. prayer service at Muzyka Funeral Home, 2157 W. Chicago Ave., Chicago. The funeral will be at 10 a.m. Thursday, June 11, at St. Volodymyr Ukrainian Orthodox Cathedral, 2238 W. Cortez St., Chicago. Interment will be in Elmwood Cemetery, River Grove.

For information, call the funeral home at 773-278-7767.

To plant trees in memory, please visit the Sympathy Store.

Published by Northwest Herald on Jun. 9, 2009.

Memories and Condolences
for Maria Horbenko

11 Entries

Nick Kallas

June 17, 2009

That is a trust story of strength, love for life and God. Baba was amazing lady and I am honored that I had the pleasure of knowing her.

Michael Dubina

June 16, 2009

Dear Baba,

It’s, impossible to describe in words the impact you have had on the entire family and especially my life. First and foremost your sheer will, strength, and courage in the face of horrific world events, you and Dido survived not one but two of the world's most brutal and evil dictators. Not easy to grasp the magnitude of this statement unless you have had a family member who live it and survived when so many did not.

First Stalin tried to break your will and your family by forcing the "State" on you. Anyone caught practicing Christianity was killed or sent to the Gulag in Siberia, never to return, two of your brothers suffered this fate. Stalin didn't stop there no, next came what is now known as "The Holodomor", translation; Stalin is solely responsible for the deaths of 10 million Ukrainians, who perished due to forced starvation. 10 MILLION Ukrainians but not Baba or Dido nor Nina or Nadia. But the story doesn't end here Baba's metal is tested further by Hitler's Labor/Death camps. For nearly 7 years you endured more hardship in Germany under Hitler's rule and yet you gave birth to Kathy and Dmitri increasing the family twofold. After the World War ended you and Dido, Nina, Kathy, and Dmitri made the decision to come to America. You knew it was to dangerous to stay in the Ukraine under Stalin's dictatorship. Sound like a easy choice right? Nothing could be further from the truth. To leave your "Home" the only country you know and love for one you know nothing about. No money, no
real destination in America, you didn't speak the language, 2 weeks by boat all these doubts must have been overwhelming and yet you and Dido found the strength. You came by boat through Ellis Island, passed the Statue of Liberty to enter America in the late 1940's. You picked cotton in Mississippi for a time to make ends meet and put food on the table but you hated the heat and humidity not to mention the snakes so prevalent in the deep south. So Dido wrote to his friend in Chicago who said there were jobs in the city. And with a little help from friends and the church you and your family moved to Chicago. Working hard you saved your money, bought a apartment building, gave birth to your 5th and final child George.In Chicago you finally found a safe haven to raise your family. Eventually you left the city to move to a small town called Fox River Grove, Illinois. Where you and Dido bought a small house by the river taking the family fishing and enjoying the good life and watching you family grow and grow. So many grandchildren and great grandchildren signs of a woman truly blessed by God. Reads like a screenplay for movie and if I were directing and producing it would undoubtedly be an epic film of the likes of "Gone with the Wind" or Dr. Zhivago but my film would simply be called "BABA"

I'll never forget our phone conversations at times hours long about these very events and more importantly our conversations always touched upon your belief in God, reading the Bible, and family. In my mind I know it was all due to your strength in God, family, and your will to survive that makes it possible for me to be writing this today. I'll never forget the lesson's your life have taught me nor the little things like teaching me to fish, patience, how to make cornmeal dough by adding vanilla for bait, how your fingers would lock up from holding your fishing pole so long, gardening, music, I'll remember playing Domino's with you and Dido, and Monkey, I'll remember coloring Ukrainian eggs for you, painting in your kitchen, drawing you and Dido's portrait, the summers spent at your house in Fox River Grove, I'll remember going to Maxwell street with you and my parents, we stayed in your apartment on Oakley every Saturday night, I'll remember walking around church holding candles on Easter eve, you would wrap tin foil around my candle so it would stay lit. I'll remember the family parties, the arguments, the laughter, the singing, you making Soma-hoin-ka or "Firewater" as my Greek friend Nick like to call it. He only met you Baba a hand full of times but I know how much he respected and loved that zest for life you exhibited. I’ll remember our last phone conversation you spoke of your pain and God and I told you God only gives you what you can handle and that you were the strongest Horbenko that has ever lived and to stay strong and then I said goodbye and that I love you.

I will miss you so much, and I will never forget you ever Baba. Eternal Love,

Michael

Kathy Minaudo

June 15, 2009

Baba,
I will always keep and cherrish the memories I have of you. I will never forget the summers I spent with you, being at your house was like being home. You taught me so much! Because of you I love mushrooms and Holadetzs. I will miss coming to visit and getting our favorite eggrolls. I will miss calling you at night and telling you about "everything" I will miss your smile and those twinkling eyes, You will be in my heart forever! I love and miss you!

Natalie Butler

June 15, 2009

Baba,
I miss you. I still can't believe you are gone. I guess I thought you would be here forever. I feel so lucky that I had you as my grandmother. I have so many wonderful memories of you that I will never forget. You were such an amazing woman with a beautiful smile. I love you!

Veeka Botcharov

June 14, 2009

Dear Baba Maria,
99 years and 2 months ago god gave us such a beautiful angel,she would grow up and be the head dog in our huge family.telling stories of all of the hardships that you had overcome. we are all going to miss you so much.
i remember you helping out that poor duck that had a broken beak,and you going down to the river everyday to feed it,and it would be there waiting for you. and all of our puzzles we put together redoing them time after time again.but since we had you on earth for 99 years,its time to give god back a beautiful angel that will be in heaven watching over all of us.
we miss you baba,and we will keep you in our hearts forever.
Love, Veeka

June 11, 2009

Our whole office was saddened to hear of Maria's passing. She was such a sweet woman and the love her family had for her was so obvious every time she came to our office. Our sympathy and prayers are with all of you.
Sincerely,
Dr. Suleman Bangash and the staff at Mohs Surgery & Dermatology office

Jim and Marlyne Maras

June 10, 2009

We were so sorry to hear about your Mothers' death. Our thoughts and prayers are with you.

Nicholas Horbenko

June 10, 2009

Baba,
Fishing nights on the Fox River, early Sundays at Church, countless family parties, how you always (and still) called me Nickey...I will remember it all. Mostly I will remember the ways you where there for us when we needed you. I just hope I was there for you when you needed me.
Nickey

Alina Kornyeyeva

June 10, 2009

We will always remember..

George Horbenko

June 9, 2009

Dearest Mother,
Blessed is the way in which you walk today, O soul; a place of rest has been prepared for you. I ask God to grant rest to your soul, dearest Mother "among the saints,where there is no more pain, sorrow, or suffering". I will always cherish our time together, daily coffee & toast(with ham & cheese), our common love of salo, studenetz and of course who can ever forget your wonderful pyrushky. You will live on in my memories and every daily prayer.
Your ever loving son

Lesia Botcharov

June 9, 2009

Dear Baba Maria,
You were the glue that bound our family together and you will be deeply missed by all of us. I am grateful that you raised me along with a few of your other 14 grandchildren. We affectionately always called you "Baba". You even helped to raise some of your 18 great grandchildren who lovingly called you "Big Baba". I will miss hearing the stories of your life struggles. Surviving the 1933 Famine in Ukraine, to the forced labor camp in Germany, and the struggles of beginning a new life in America. I am, however, happy in knowing that you are now at peace together with our grandfather "Dido" Borys. You were there for me when my daughter, Veeka, was born and we gave her the first bath at your house as well as her first birthday party. I thank you for treating me like your daughter. We all miss you and love you very much,
Lesia, Kolya, and Veeka

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