Bohdan Kernytsky

Bohdan Kernytsky died peacefully surrounded by his loving family at his home on Monday Mar, 30 2020 at the age of 83.

Bohdan is survived by his loving wife of 42 years, Stefania, (née kopanska) his four children: Dr. Andrew, Dr. Ania (Dr. Brian), Stephen, and Dorian and his grandchildren: Joseph, Julia, Michael, Natalia, and Mark. He was preceded in death by his parents, Omelan and Eugenia, and granddaughter, Victoria.

Bohdan Kernytsky was born on December 24, 1936 in the village of Zolota Sloboda in Ternopil, Ukraine to Omelan Kernytsky and Eugenia Gadach Kernytsky.  In 1944, the family fled Ukraine as the Red Army approached and traveled through Slovakia, Austria, and Germany. Ultimately, as displaced persons, they were resettled in 1947 to Brazil.

In Brazil, Bohdan and his family settled in Ponta Grossa southwest of Sao Paulo. Bohdan was an altar server up until young adulthood and developed a passion for photography and classical music. He completed an undergraduate degree in Pharmacy.

In 1961, the family was able to make contact with Eugenia’s brother who was in the United States. As a result, they emigrated to the United States as part of the Family Reunification program. In the United States, Bohdan worked in a laboratory while attending classes at La Salle College. He completed a degree in Chemistry in 1968.

In 1977, Bohdan married Stefania Kopanska, who was living in Plesno, Poland, and they came back to the United States to start their life together.  Soon after, they bought a home in Rockledge, PA, where they raised four children together.

Bohdan’s career was spent in chemistry and the sciences. He worked in chemistry at Harleco, Merck, Geometric Data, Polysciences, Wyeth Ayerst, and finally he worked for ten years as an Information Scientist for Thomson Reuters.

Bohdan helped fund the construction of multiple Catholic churches throughout the world including Ecuador, Ukraine, Poland and Spain with a particular emphasis on icons and stained glass in honor of Divine Mercy.
 

Bohdan cared deeply about Ukraine.  Throughout his life, he was involved in the Ukrainian Educational and Cultural Center in sending his children to Ukrainian Saturday School, Voloshky Dance Ensemble and Ukrainian youth groups CYM and PLAST. He was also an active parishioner of several Ukranian churches including Christ the King, Annunciation B.V.M. and St. Michael the Archangel. He was part of the founding group of people who helped build the new church building at St. Michael the Archangel Ukrainian Catholic Church.

Bohdan was a fixture in the Ukrainian community as the photographer of just about every event that took place.  If there was a wedding or a cultural event, Bohdan would be there, documenting it and ensuring its memory could be preserved.

Bohdan had numerous passions that he instilled in his children. His love of photography, playing the piano and accordion, stamp-collecting, classical music and science came through in unique ways in each of his children. He also had a love for a good joke and an unforgettable sense of humor.

Donations in Bohdan's memory may be made to:

Basilian Spirituality Center

710 Fox Chase Road, Fox Chase Manor, PA 19046

Website:https://stbasils.com/basilian-spirituality-center/

Ukrainian Educational and Cultural Center Radio Program

700 N Cedar Rd, Jenkintown, PA 19046

Website: https://www.ueccphila.org/radio

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