Archpriest Michael Zaparyniuk Jr.

The servant of God, the Archpriest Michael Zaparyniuk, Jr., reposed in the Lord in hope of the resurrection on September 22, 2025. He was 92 years old and leaves behind two grieving families, his relatives and his Church family. He will be greatly missed.

Fr. Michael was born in Cleveland, Ohio, the son of Michael Zaparyniuk, Sr. and Pani Mary Zaparyniuk. This Zaparyniuk family last lived in Trenton, New Jersey, where his father, Father Michael Sr., built the Holy Trinity Ukrainian Orthodox church in 1939, for a community that had been founded in 1919. His father, Fr. Michael Sr. served this parish until his passing in November 1958. In February of 1959, the newly ordained Father Michael, Jr. became the rector. Prior to being ordained, Fr. Michael was President of the Ukrainian Orthodox League, and attended Bucknell University, graduating in 1955. After graduation, he attended St. Vladimir's Orthodox Theological Seminary in Yonkers, New York. In 1957, he married his loving wife, Annette Zelnerowicz, of New Britian, Connecticut. While in Trenton, Fr. Michael and his wife Annette welcomed five children into this world. Also, during this time, he became involved with the Orthodox Christian Education Commission. In 1968, Fr. Michael and family relocated to Forestville, Connecticut, calling this their home for seven years. He served the community at St. Mary's Ukrainian Orthodox Church, in New Britain, Connecticut, where his wife had been born and baptized.

Fr. Michael and his family joined the Orthodox Church in America after leaving New Britain in 1974. They relocated to Syracuse, New York where he was affiliated with Ss. Peter and Paul Orthodox Church. Subsequently, Fr. Michael served at St. Basil's Orthodox Church in Maplewood, New York and Holy Trinity Orthodox Church in Elmira Heights, New York. Life's journey then brought Fr. Michael and his family to St. Herman's Orthodox Church in Lake Worth, Florida, where he served the church until his retirement in 2015.

Fr. Michael is survived by his wife, Matushka Annette, and four children: Ruth Sencio, (Sub Deacon Brian Sencio); Michael Zaparyniuk, III; Gregory Zaparyniuk, (Christine Kennedy); Faith Jantzi, (Douglas Jantzi), son-in-law Fernando Tonarely and grandchildren Peter Jantzi and Catherine Jantzi. He was predeceased by his daughter, Anna Tonarely, and his four siblings, Mary Palazey, Adele Powlenko, John Zaparyniuk, and Joanna Michaels. He also leaves many friends and parishioners.

Funeral services are as follows:

Friday, September 26, 2025, friends and family are welcome to St. Herman of Alaska Orthodox church, 7099 South Military Trail, Lake Worth, Florida 33463. Visitation is from 5 to 6:30pm. Funeral service at 7pm.

Saturday, September 27, Divine Liturgy at 10:00am.

Saturday, October 4 at 11:00am burial service and internment at the Orthodox Monastery of the Transfiguration, 321

Monastery Lane, Ellwood City, Pennsylvania 16117.

In lieu of flowers, please consider making a donation to:

St. Herman of Alaska Orthodox Church

7099 South Military Trail

Lake Worth, Florida 33463

St. Vladimir's Orthodox Theological Seminary

575 Scarsdale Road

Yonkers, New York 10707

Orthodox Monastery of the Transfiguration

321 Monastery Lane

Ellwood City, Pennsylvania 16117