Ksenia Pidhirskyj

Ksenia Pidhirskyj of Philadelphia, loving wife, mother, grandmother and great grandmother, passed away peacefully on January 10, 2025.

Ksenia was born on July 30, 1923 in Pluhiv, Zolochiv Ukraine.  As a teenager she went to Germany as a forced laborer during WWII where she worked hard on a farm.  While in Germany she met her husband, Iwan, and they married November, 1945 and the following year they welcomed their son, Jerry.  While still in Germany they lived in a displaced persons camp. 

In 1949 they arrived in Brazil where they assimilated and became active members in the Ukrainian community.  Iwan was a carpenter by trade; he and Ksenia built their home in Porto Alegre.  And there they welcomed their daughter, Maria.  After 10 years in Brazil, Iwan wanted to immigrate to the United States.  With sponsors and job guarantees the family flew to the United States arriving in  Philadelphia on December 24, 1959.

For a short time the family lived in Northern Liberties before moving to the Feltonville and then the Sandyford Park sections of the city; here they assimilated yet again in a new country and the Ukrainian community.  After a couple of odd jobs Ksenia became a seamstress, working for women's clothing.  She loved sewing for herself, her daughter, close friends and even for her young grandsons.  At the age of 63 she learned to drive a car which gave her independence.  After she retired in 1988 she actively volunteered at the Ukrainian Educational & Culture Center and Tryzub where she helped in the kitchen.  She loved to bake and cook for her family and friends.

Ksenia is predeceased by her husband Iwan, her parents (Maria and Hnat Boyko), sister Yuliya and brother Josef.

She is survived by her son Jerry (Zena), daughter Maria Waker, her grandsons, Michael (Kathy), Stephen (Kelley) and her great-grandchildren, Luke, Charlotte and Christian.

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