Born at Christmas

The first time our paths crossed, she was entering a door and I was standing there.  It wasn't long before I learned that her ethnic background was Ukrainian: she was very proud of her heritage.  Having heard for years about the customs surrounding Christmas celebrations in the Ukrainian households, and of course the Easter traditions of pysanky (Easter eggs), I had to ask, did this wonderful lady still prepare the 12 meatless courses for Christmas Eve?

'Yes,' she said, 'I have done it up until this last year, but I can't do it any more.'  Arthritis was cripling her hands and migrating into her arms.  Her fingers were already knarled and her arms were increasingly in need of braces because of the painful condition.

This didn't stop her though.  She was only too happy to show me how to make the many varieties of pedaheh (otherwise known as pyrogy) and of course the holopchi (cabbage rolls).  As it turns out, we spent weeks preparing the dumplings and other dishes that would garnish the table on January 6: Ukrainian Christmas Eve.  Family and friends gathered around the table that year, and her husband proudly proclaimed that the borscht had taken him the entire year to prepare, right from seeds!

After celebrating more than 9 decades here on earth, she finally returned Home this week.  The visitation with her family was continuous throughout the afternoon and into the evening.  Even the Vigil prayers were a moment of faith and belief in the promise of resurrection.

She would be very proud to see so many of her friends, the friends she loved for so long, the ones she guided, the ones she counseled, the ones she cried with, the ones she laughed with ... all gathered to bid her farewell.

Rest well, your good deeds have already borne fruit, and continue to do so ... and don't worry, the pedaheh, holopchi and borscht are now our responsibility.