Larissa F. Shpon

1944 - 2025

It is with deep sorrow that we announce the passing of Larissa Chajkowsky Shpon, devoted wife, mother, grandmother, sister, cousin and aunt, on Thursday, February 27, 2025 at Shannondell Rehabilitation Facility in Audubon, PA.

Larissa was born on November 27, 1944, in Greifswald, Germany. She was the second of four daughters (Christine, Larissa, Vera and Martha) born to Dr. Jurij and Maria (Bedrylo) Chajkowsky, originally from Lviv, Ukraine.

The family had emigrated to East Germany in the early 1940s (before Larissa's birth) and traveled further to the United States in 1951 following Jurij's passing. They settled with paternal grandparents Antin and Mychajlyna in the Northern Liberties section of Philadelphia.

Larissa graduated from St. Mary's Villa Academy in Sloatsburg, NY, completed finishing school, and worked as an executive secretary at Gimbel Brothers Department Store in Philadelphia, PA.

She met and married Zenon Shpon in 1969. The couple settled in Binghamton, NY, but relocated to Erie, PA within a few years, where they raised their daughters. They moved to Warm Mineral Springs, FL in 1995 upon Zenon's retirement. Zenon passed away in 2018, and Larissa continued to live in Warm Mineral Springs until 2022, when she moved to Shannondell Senior Community in Audubon, PA.

Larissa was passionate about upholding Ukrainian traditions and causes. She was an active member of the Ukrainian National Women's League Branch #56, and served as her branch secretary for several years. She was also very involved in her church and sang in the church choir.

Larissa was an avid reader; other hobbies included crocheting, needlepoint, Scrabble, Mahjong and watching Jeopardy. Despite battling diabetes and its many secondary complications for over 70 years, she remained positive, upbeat and energetic.

Larissa is preceded in death by her husband, Zenon, and sisters, Christine Dolnycky and Martha Conway. She is survived by daughters Areta (Rick), and Renata (Michael); sister Vera Chajkowsky Dutton, four grandchildren: Daniel, Natalie, Ian and Alexander, cousins Motria Holowinsky and Andrew Senkowsky, and numerous nieces and nephews.

In lieu of flowers, donations in memory of Larissa Chajkowsky Shpon may be made to the Ukrainian War Victims' Fund through the Ukrainian National Women's League of America, Inc. (UNWLA) Branch #56 in North Port, FL.

Relatives and friends are invited to her Visitation on Thursday, March 6, 2025 from 11 AM to 12 PM at Annunciation BVM Ukrainian Catholic Church. Requiem Services will be sung at 12 noon. Burial will follow at St. Mary Ukrainian Catholic Cemetery.

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