Vera Zubrycky

Vera Zirka Zubrycky passed away peacefully on November 18, 2024, at the age of 79, after a brave battle with acute myeloid leukemia, AML. Vera Romaniuk was born on October 25, 1945 in Germany and moved to Chicago at an early age with her parents Stephania and Ivan Romaniuk. She met her husband Zenon, got married, and then moved to California as a newlywed. Vera was a kind and loving woman who put everyone first before herself. She was eager and ready to introduce herself, welcoming all in her community, and always willing to offer a helping hand. She volunteered at St Joseph of Cupertino School, the Ukrainian Catholic churches in San Francisco and Santa Clara, the local Ukrainian School, Ukrainian scouting camp, and Ukrainian National Women’s League Association.She had an exceptional and natural eye for design, working as a floral designer at Across the Bridge in Los Gatos. That time brought her friendships and happy times, especially during the Christmas season. She proudly raised her family with an abundance of Ukrainian traditions by making pysanky, baking babka, and cooking varenyky. These cherished moments and traditions will be remembered and honored forever. She recently moved to The Forum in Cupertino which brought great joy and happiness, living in a new setting with an active social life and with new people to meet. Although the AML took her away from The Forum from time to time, it did not dampen her spirit. She was predeceased by her loving husband Zenon in 2019 of 52 years. She is survived by her daughters, Orysia Anderson (Todd) and Zorianna Jarymowycz (Taras), and son Taras, grandchildren Justin, Tatiana (Gino Aparicio) and Stefan Anderson, Andrew and Nicholas Jarymowycz and great-granddaughter Maisie Aparicio.

The Zubrycky family is thankful for the doctors and nurses at UCSF Medical Center Hospital at Parnassus Heights, Stanford Hospital and Stanford Cancer Center in Palo Alto, who helped prolong her time with us. We are also thankful to the many donors who give their blood to save others. Were it not for weekly blood transfusions and platelets, AML survivors would have significantly shorter survival rates.

A memorial service will be held at Gate of Heaven Cemetery, St. Clare Chapel in Los Altos, CA on the 21st of December, 2024 at 12 noon.

In lieu of flowers, donations can be made in her honor to the St. Volodymyr Ukrainian Catholic Mission in Santa Clara.