Funeral services for Sonya Perich, mother of Archpriest John Perich, Rector of Saint Herman Church here, and daughter of the late Protopresbyter Joseph Pishtey, the first Chancellor of the Orthodox Church in America until his repose in November 1972, and Matushka Susanna Pishtey, will be celebrated at Saint Herman Church, 1855 Middletown Road, Gradyville, PA on Wednesday evening, September 27, 2017 at 6:30 p.m. Visitation will precede the funeral at 4:00 p.m.
Sonya fell asleep in the Lord on Sunday morning, September 24.
A Panikhida will be celebrated at Saint Tikhon of Zadonsk Monastery Church, South Canaan, PA at noon on Thursday, September 28, with interment in the monastery cemetery. A repast will follow at Saint Michael’s Hall, Jermyn, PA.
Born on November 18, 1929 in Terryville, CT, Sonya was predeceased by her beloved husband, John Perich, Sr., whom she met and married in Yonkers, NY. She was a graduate of a business college in New York, NY and also perused many years of study in opera under the tutelage of Madame Marguerite von Eichenwald of the Bolshoi Opera. Sonya was a coloratura soprano and performed in Carnegie Hall and numerous other east coast venues accompanied by the Metropolitan Male Chorus, the Russian Liturgical Choir and several others ensembles.
In 1955, she was employed as the Executive Manager of the Traveler’s Insurance Company of New York, from which she retired in 1993. After many years of residing in Yonkers, NY, she and her husband relocated to Media, PA and were members of Saint Herman Church. She spent the last few years of her life in a senior living facility in Glen Mills.
In addition to Father John and his wife, Matushka Eugenia Perich, Sonya is survived by her daughter, Susan Pasqualone; three grandchildren, Chrysa, Taisia and Alixandra; four great-grandchildren, Joseph, Emilie, Joseph and Kira; and many nieces, nephews and cousins.
In lieu of flowers, donations in her memory may be made to the Sonya Perich Memorial Fund, c/o Saint Herman of Alaska Church, PO Box 231, Gradyville, PA 19039.
May Sonya’s memory be eternal!