Vera Gina

It is with deep sorrow that we announce the passing of Vera Gina.  She passed away on May 30, 2025 after a courageous battle with a long illness.  Her beloved daughter, Adriana Lesia, was by her side.   Vera touched the lives of all who knew her with her warmth, compassion, and unwavering strength.

Born on April 12, 1944 in Horozanka, Ukraine, to Walter and Anastasia Hurkot Gina, Vera’s early life was shaped by resilience and change. As an infant she left Ukraine with her parents, living in Belgium and Canada before the family eventually made their home New York.

Vera graduated from Hunter College in 1966 and began her professional career as a researcher at Hoffman-La Roche. When her daughter Adriana Lesia was born, she made the heartfelt decision to leave her career to devote herself fully to motherhood—a role she cherished above all.

In later years,  Vera worked in New York’s East Village, contributing meaningfully to the vibrant Ukrainian community she so deeply loved. She was an active and devoted parishioner of St.George’s Ukrainian Catholic Church, where she found joy in volunteering, especially during the parish festivals. With compassion and generosity, she also supported newly arrived immigrants, helping them adjust to their new lives in a new country.  

Vera had a deep appreciation for Ukrainian culture and the arts, a love she joyfully shared with her daughter.  These shared moments- full of meaning, memory, and affection – remain etched in Adriana’s heart as a lasting testament to the rich life they shared.  

She will be deeply missed, and her memory will live on in all those whose lives she touched. May almighty God welcome her with joy and pure love.

She is survived by her daughter Adriana and family and friends in the U.S. and Ukraine

In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made in her memory to the Ukrainian Museum:  https://www.theukrainianmuseum.org/support/  (212) 228-0110

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Viewing before Mass at 11am will take place at St. Andrews Church located at Holy Spirit Cemetery on Wednesday June 4th, 2025 starting at 10:45am. Burial to follow.