February 21, 2017 sr. Olga Natalia Hajdukiewicz, OSBM of the Holy Cross Province, Poland was called home to the Lord in the 89th year of her life, having lived 46 years in the monastery. “God grant her Eternal Memory!”
On February 21 2017 Sister Olga Natalia Hajdukiewicz, fell asleep in the Lord at the age of 89 years, having spent 46 years in religious life, in the Holy Cross Province in Gorlice, Poland.
Sister Olga Natalia Hajdukiewicz, was born on August 6, 1928 in Yaseli, a village in Lemkivshchyna, which no longer exists) to the priestly family of Rev. Volodymyr and Lyubomyra (Dobriansky). Sister Olga had a brother Yaroslav, who taught physics for many years in a Ukrainian higher educational institute. Her father was assigned as pastor of Volivtsi, and later Kryvyj. Sister completed her elementary education in Kryvyj, and continued her schooling in Gorlice. During the political operation “Visla” in 1947, her parents were forcefully relocated to Sprotav in eastern Poland. Upon receiving their address, their daughter Natalia joined them there. There she completed a school of economics and worked in a trade center, eventually becoming the head bookkeeper in the establishment.
On May 15, 1971 Natalia entered the monastery of the Basilian Sisters in Yanoviczakh Vjelkykh. She received the monastic name of Olga. She completed her novitiate under the care of m. Markiana Vojnarowska. Olga professed first Temporary Vows on November 17, 1972. Final vows were professed on October 1977 and received by delegated m. Paula Lipkiewicz during Divine Liturgy celebrated by Rev. Josafat Romanyk, OSBM.
After novitiate, Sr. Olga first worked from 1972-78 with disabled children in Mjendzules near Warsaw, later from 19778-88 in Janovicakh Vjelkykh. In 1974, at the request of the clergy, the Basilian Sisters began religious education for children in Greek-Catholic parishes. Every Saturday, Sister Olga would travel to various cities for catechesis, as well as, to care for her ailing mother.
Sister Olga Hajdukiewicz diligently worked for the Order and for her Province. She served as Provincial Vicar and Provincial Secretary. She was also assigned as Director of Novices. She was elected and served as delegate to the General Chapter. Sister wrote the chronicles for the monastery in Gorlice. In 2005, she wrote a book titled Memories of the life and priestly works of Reverend Monsignor Volodymyr Hajdukiewicz and his Family.
From 1989 Sr. Olga was assigned to the monastery in Gorlice, where she worked and reverently prayer for her Church, for the unity of Christians, and for her family. Although she had weak health, she carried her cross patiently, helping her Sisters with a variety of housework. Sister loved and dedicated all her work for God, the Order and her country. She was a gentle person, sensitive to others, and always willing to aid others.
Rev. Hryhorij Nazar anointed Sister Olga with the Sacrament of Healing on February 2, 2017. She fell asleep in the Lord in the morning of February 21, 2017 in the hospital in Gorlice. The following day her earthly remain were brought to the monastery chapel, where in the evening clergy celebrated the Parastas with the participation of the Sisters and many parishioners.
Funeral services were held on February 23, 2017. Most Rev. Metropolitan Yevhen Popovych (Metropolitan-archbishop of Peremysl-Warsaw) celebrated the Divine Liturgy and funeral services with many clergy con-celebrating. In addition to the Sisters from her Province, m. Daniela Stefkova, Provincial Superior from Presov, Slovakia, participated in the services. Her nephew Jurij and niece Anna with husband Christopher represented the family. Faithful of both Ukrainian Catholic and Roman Catholic were in attendance. Following the services and burial at the Sisters’ cemetery in Gorlice, the Sisters hosted all the participants for a dinner.
May the memory of Sister Olga Natalia Hajdukiewicz be eternal!