Matushka Alexandra Lukashonak

Matushka Alexandra Lukasonak, 70, the wife of the late Rev. Cyril Lukashonak, fell asleep in the Lord at Glenbrook Hospital here on Thursday, January 31, 2008.

Born Alexandra Avvakumovna Hawryluk in Staten Island, NY, the daughter of Ukrainian immigrants, she was a graduate of the Latin American Institute, New York, NY. She was a member of Manhattan’s Holy Virgin Protection Cathedral, where she and her husband were married in 1962.

Answering the call to serve in the Church, she worked selflessly to support her young daughter Anthea and husband while he studied at Saint Vladimir’s Seminary, Crestwood, NY. It was during the Lukashonaks’ years at the seminary years that their first son, Andrew, was born.

After Father Cyril’s graduation from the seminary, ordination, and assignment as the first full-time rector of the newly established Holy Resurrection Mission, Mt. Prospect, IL [today Holy Resurrection Church, Palatine, IL], she gave birth to their second son, Alexander.

Over the years, Matushka Alexandra took an active role in every parish they served by teaching, organizing vacation Church schools, singing the liturgical responses at weekday services, and volunteering in various capacities. The center of her life was the Church and her family.

After Father Cyril fell asleep in the Lord while serving as rector of Archangel Michael Church, Burbank, IL in 1985, Matushka Alexandra became an active member of Saint Luke the Evangelist Church, Palos Hills, IL, where she continued to share her talents in many ways. In 2005, she was diagnosed with non-alcoholic cirrhosis of the liver, which had gone undetected for several years. This disease, combined with diabetes, a recent stroke, and a serious infection, weakened her heart and led to her respose.

Matushka Alexandra is survived by her daughter Anthea Catherine, Palos Hills, IL; sons Andrew Avvakum, Lisle, IL, and the Rev. Alexander Cyril and his wife Oksana, Wheeling, IL; her sister, Irene Christensen, Staten Island, NY; her niece and god-daughter, Lydia Christensen, Evergreen Park, IL; and several other nieces and nephews.

Visitation will be held on Sunday, February 3, 2008, at Saint Luke the Evangelist Church, 10700 South Kean Ave., Palos Hills, IL, from 2:00 until 6:00 p.m., at which time the funeral service will be celebrated. The Divine Liturgy will be celebrated on Monday, February 4, at 9:30 a.m., followed by interment next to her husband at Evergreen Cemetery, Evergreen Park, IL.

Donations in Matushka Alexandra’s memory may be made to Religious Books for Russia, Inc., PO Box 466, LaGrangeville, NY 12540.

May Matushka Alexandra’s memory be eternal!