Matushka Barbara Anne Kucynda, 71, beloved wife of Archpriest Paul Kucynda, long-time Rector of Holy Resurrection Church, Wayne, NJ, peacefully fell asleep in the Lord at home on Friday, February 16, 2018.
Born and raised in Brooklyn, NY, the daughter of John and Anne Kuntzevich, Matushka Barbara graduated from Samuel J. Tilden High School, after which she attended Saint John’s University. After her family relocated to Bridgeport, CT, she completed her education at Western Connecticut State University, Danbury, CT, receiving a Bachelor of Science degree in Elementary Education. She initially worked as a substitute teacher while waiting for her future husband to graduate from Saint Vladimir’s Seminary, Yonkers, NY. On June 11, 1967, she and the future Father Paul were married at Holy Trinity Church, Brooklyn, her home parish.
After Father Paul’s ordination on January 7, 1968, the Kucyndas were assigned to Holy Resurrection Church, where they served for five decades. Matushka Barbara worked for the Wayne Board of Education until giving birth to their son, Timothy, in 1969. After returning to the workforce, she was employed as a substitute and Special Education teacher. Later she worked as a bookkeeper at Gotleib and Eurlich in Newark, NJ and Gotleib in Parsippany, NJ.
Matushka Barbara was active in a variety of ministries in and beyond their parish, at which she was engaged in numerous youth ministry and educational programs. Her caring and supportive involvement in their parish touched at least four generations of faithful. She was widely known for selflessly offering her time and many talents every summer at Saint Andrew’s Camp, Jewell, NY, where she was greatly beloved by generations of campers. She also coauthored a number of study resources published by the Orthodox Church in America’s Departments of Christian Education and Youth, Young Adult and Campus Ministry. In January 2018, the Kucyndas celebrated 50 years of ministry together at Holy Resurrection Church.
Matushka Barbara was predeceased by her father, John. Among those surviving her, in addition to her husband and son Timothy of San Francisco, CA, are her mother, Anne Kuntzevich, Wayne, NJ; sister Diana Hurley, Bloomingdale, NJ; sister-in-law Charlotte Markovitch [Joseph], Clearfield, PA; several nieces and nephews; and many beloved godchildren. She is also survived by the many children and teens whose hearts were touched by her various youth oriented efforts.
Visitation will be held at Holy Resurrection Church, 285 French Hill Road, Wayne, NJ from 2:00 until 4:00 p.m. on Thursday, February 22. A Memorial will be celebrated at 3:00 p.m. On Friday, February 23, visitation will resume from 2:00 until 4:00 p.m. and from 7:00 p.m. until 8:00 p.m., at which time the Funeral Service will be celebrated. His Eminence, Archbishop Michael will preside. The Divine Liturgy, at which Archbishop Michael also will preside, will be celebrated at 9:00 a.m. on Saturday, February 24. Interment will take place at 11:00 a.m. on Monday, February 26 at Saint Vladimir’s Cemetery, 316 Cassville Road, Jackson, NJ.
In lieu of flowers, memorial donations to the Diocese of New York and New Jersey Youth Ministry, 33 Hewitt Avenue, Bronxville, NY 10708 would be greatly appreciated.
May Matushka Barbara’s memory be eternal!