Yuliya P. Udovitchenko

Yuliya was born on August 14, 1927, in a small village near Lugansk, Ukraine. During WW2, when Ukraine was invaded by the German army and her village occupied, she and her parents were forced to move into an outbuilding leaving their main house to the German troops. During this difficult time, they struggled to survive on meager amounts of food and income. After the war was over, she was able to begin her university studies.

Yuliya graduated from Voronezh State University of Forestry and Technologies in 1953. For almost 30 years she worked at the Lugansk Regional Department of Forestry and Hunting, from which she retired as the Chief Economist in 1982. In 1987 she moved to the city of Dnipro, Ukraine to be closer to her daughter, Tetyana and granddaughter Karyna. In 2007 Yuliya re-joined her daughter Tetyana in the United States. San Antonio has been Yuliya’s home ever since, and she became a US citizen in 2015.

Throughout her life, Yuliya found joy in gardening, tending to and planting trees and flowers, classical music, cross-stitching, and antiquing. She continued to play the piano well into her eighties, and in her youth, she also played the accordion. She was very active, always tried to make herself useful and could never sit idly. For many years in Ukraine, she cultivated a plot of land growing vegetables, and every fall filling the pantry with homemade preserves. She will be remembered for her cooking and hospitality. Until the very end, Yuliya took interest in current events, history, geography, art, and crossword puzzles. She was a ruthless card player up to the last day. Even when she struggled with her health in the end, she was always quick with a sober but funny remark. Yuliya loved her traditional dishes (borscht and farmer’s cheese pancakes), but she also became fond of hamburgers and Texas barbecue.

Ninety-nine years is an extraordinary life, and we are grateful for the time we had with her. While we will miss her deeply, we will remember her as a strong, independent woman and a supportive and loving mother and grandmother with a tireless work ethic.

Yuliya is preceded in death by her parents, Dariya Koretskaya and Pavel Parakhin, her son Eugene Udovitchenko, her son-in-law David Orndorff, grandson, German and is survived by her daughter Tetyana Orndorff and partner Phillip Wing, granddaughter, Karyna, grand son-in-law Waldemar, grand daughter-in-law Natalia, and greatgrandchildren Elly, Lea, Mia, Daniil and Alexander.

Although saying goodbye is never easy, we take comfort in knowing that Yuliya lived a long life and that her memory will live on different continents in the hearts of those who knew her.

Yuliya strongly opposed Russia’s invasion of Ukraine and supported the Ukrainian people in their fight for freedom. For those who wish to honor her memory a donation may be made to the UNITED 24 INITATIVE, which raises funds to aid people of Ukraine (please see the donation link below the obituary). Flowers can be sent to Yuliya’s home.

A memorial gathering will be held at Yuliy’s home on October 24 offering family and friends a chance to come together and celebrate her life.

Rest peacefully. Forever in our hearts.