Obituary for Stefan Szemetylo Stefan Szemetylo, 92, of Zanesville, Ohio died Friday morning, March 30th, 2018 at Genesis Hospice at Morrison House. He was born to Very Reverend Protopresbyter Ipolit and Matushka Glikeria (Hrud) Szemetylo in Pochiev, Ukraine on Orthodox Christmas Eve January 6, 1926. After living many years in Ukraine, the family lost their home during World War II and became refugees in a Displaced Persons Camp in Germany.
There, at the age of 19, he met his wife to be, Antonina. His family was accepted and immigrated to the United States, specifically New York City. However, Antonina’s family was accepted and immigrated to Canada.
Regardless, Stefan found her and after marrying in Canada, the couple resided in New York City. Shortly before his wedding, Stefan was drafted into the United States Army. He was stationed in Germany during the time of the Korean Conflict.
He spoke several languages – Ukrainian, German, Russian, Polish, and English. Upon completing his service he became a United States citizen. He earned his Bachelor of Science in Chemical Engineering from New York University as a benefit of the GI Bill.
He often juggled two jobs, school, and family. Upon graduation, he worked ten years for New York Testing Labs followed by twenty-two years at Amstar Domino Sugar from where he retired as a chemist in 1991. Stefan was noted for his hobby as a photographer.
He enjoyed photographing rustic landscapes in the western United States, the local theatrical productions that his grandchildren were involved in, and other important events. “Two Flash, Two Flash! ”, are words that will remain in many of our memories.
He and Antonina relocated from Flushing, Queens to Zanesville in 1998. Since Thanksgiving 2014, he made his home with Dr. Victor & Kristy Szemetylo. He was preceded in death by his parents; Antonina (Plawycz) Szemetylo, his wife of 50 years; 11 brothers and sisters, most recently, Witalij Szemetylo, Reverend Father Wsevold Shemetylo, and Tatiana (Szemetylo) Czurkyn.
He is survived by his daughter, Anna (Szemetylo) Seniw, Glen Spey, NY; daughter/daughter-in-law Olga Szemetylo & Sue Schroeder, Burien, WA; son/daughter-in-law Dr. Victor & Kristy (Kazemekas) Szemetylo, Zanesville, OH; Grandchildren: Maria (Seniw) & Gary Muller, Centreville, VA; Natalie Szemetylo, Washington,DC; Stephanie Szemetylo, Sheboygan, WI; Alexander Szemetylo, New York, NY; Mark Szemetylo, of the home. In addition he is survived, by special family members Janet (Kazemekas) and Sam Debray, Zanesville, OH and New York, NY and several nieces and nephews. Hillis, Combs, & Nestor Funeral Home are handling funeral arrangements for the family.
Calling hours will be held at the church one hour prior (9am-10am) to the funeral on Saturday, April 21st, 2018. At 10:00 a.m. a Ukrainian Orthodox Funeral Mass will be held at St. Thomas Aquinas Catholic Church, 144 N. Fifth Street, Zanesville with St. Thomas’s Pastor Father Jan Sullivan and Father John Nakonachny, Pastor of St. Vladimir’s Ukrainian Orthodox Cathedral, Parma, Ohio presiding. Burial will follow in Mt.
Calvary Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Genesis Hospice or the Szemetylo Donor Advised Fund, Muskingum County Community Foundation, 534 Putnam Avenue, Zanesville, OH 43701. To sign the online guestbook or leave a personal note of condolence please visit www.
hilliscombsnestor.com To send flowers or a memorial gift to the family of Stefan Szemetylo please visit our Sympathy Store. Cemetery Details Mount Calvary Cemtery 1676 West Main Street Zanesville, OH, 43701 , Previous Events Visitation APR 21. 09:00 AM – 10:00 AM St. Thomas Aquinas Catholic Church 144 North Fifth Street Zanesville, OH, US, 43701 Funeral Mass APR 21.
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