Oksana Hildegard Trabocco

Oksana (Ksenya) Hildegard Nikorovich Trabocco passed on July 19, 2024. She was born in a displaced persons camp in Krenicha, Poland on October 28, 1942 and settled with her family in Philadelphia, living first in the Oak Lane section before moving to Cheltenham and then Center City.  She graduated Philadelphia High School for Girls in 1959 and Temple University.
  A devoted daughter to Michael and Artemisia, she cared for her mother until she took her last breath.  She was also a loving, single mother to her son, Tod.  As a counselor for the School District of Philadelphia, first at the East Falls School and then at the Fox Chase School, her career was dedicated to helping children manage life's challenges.
  Ksenya was a voracious consumer of current events and foreign affairs, riveted by the McNeil/Lehrer News Hour, Walter Cronkite and Dan Rather. She was not shy about her views of Israel's former Foreign Minister, Binyamin Netanyahu: "Oh, he's sooo handsome".  In retirement she combined her interest in foreign affairs and love of her ancestral homeland, Ukraine, by teaching English in Kyiv during the summers.

  In addition, she donated generously to many causes, especially those helping dogs, cats, horses, and any other of God's four legged creatures.
  She adored Marlon Brando, Elvis Presley and Mick Jagger.  In the 80s she would watch Larry Bird's Boston Celtics battle Magic Johnson's L.A. Lakers like a scientist at a microscope.  Engaging company at dinner made her smile and roar with laughter.  And she enjoyed nothing more than watching Connors, McEnroe, Borg, Nadal and Djokovic joust on Wimbledon's grass or Roland Garros' clay.
  Then she welcomed into the world her first grandchild, Elizabeth.  Marlon, Elvis, Mick and tennis took a back seat. Her joy multiplied with the arrival of Angelina and Nicholas.  She taught them to swim and ride bicycles and to them she passed on pride in her Ukrainian heritage with annual traditions of making kutya and pascha and even taught them to make pysanky with the tiny "kistky" bequeathed by her own grandmother.
  Truly, she was never happier than with her grandchildren and will doubtlessly continue to watch over them from her new, heavenly perch.  On her deathbed, she heard their voices and twitched her hands, searching for a final hug.
  She is predeceased by her parents and younger brother, Alexander Nikorovich.  She is survived by her sister, Olenka Samango, her son, Tod, daughter-in-law Stephanie and three grandchildren Elizabeth, Angelina and Nicholas.    Her viewing will begin at 9 AM and Requiem Services will be at 10 AM on Friday, August 2 at 9AM at St. Vladimir's Ukrainian Orthodox Cathedral at 6740 North Fifth Street, Philadelphia, PA, followed by the interment at St. Andrew's Memorial Church in South Bound Brook, NJ.

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