Obituary of Teresa Hrycaj

Teresa Hrycaj, 87, of Coolidge Road, passed away peacefully Wednesday noon at her home, with family at her side. Born in Irvington, New Jersey on January 11, 1921, she was the daughter of the late Michael and Ephronia Rose Spiak Panasuk. After graduating from Hightstown High School, she graduated from St. Francis Hospital School Of Nursing in Trenton, NJ and subsequently received a Bachelor Of Science Degree in nursing education from St. Louis University in St. Louis, Mo. She was the educational director for five years at St. Joseph's Hospital in Paterson, NJ and also was an instructor at the Seton Hall College Of Nursing in Newark. On June 4, 1949, she married William Hrycaj of Amsterdam. She moved to this area and for over twenty years worked at Amsterdam Memorial Hospital as a nurse, supervisor and Director Of Nursing until she retired in 1984. An avid reader, Teresa enjoyed knitting, cross country skiing, taking walks and traveling cross country with her husband after she retired. She was a member of St. Nicholas Ukrainian Catholic Church and St. Mary's Roman Catholic Church. She leaves her beloved husband of nearly sixty years, William Hrycaj of Amsterdam; six children; Thomas Hrycaj of Newton, Mass., Susan Dean of Johnsburg, NY, James Hrycaj of High Point N.C., Robert Hrycaj of Silverthorne, Co., Carol Meyers of Washington, D.C. and Janet Vics of Schenectady, NY; as well as twelve grandchildren and two great grandchildren. She is also survived by her brother George Panasuk of Neptune, N.J. , two sisters; Dorothy Deal of Onancock, Va., and Alice Phillips of Tinton Falls, N.J. Funeral services will be held Monday, September 29, 2008, at 8:30 am, at Betz, Rossi & Bellinger Family Funeral Home, 171 Guy Park Avenue, Amsterdam. Followed by a Funeral Mass celebrated at St. Mary's Roman Catholic Church, 156 East Main Street, Amsterdam, at 9:15 am, Father John Medwid, celebrant. Interment will follow in St. Nicholas Cemetery. Calling Hours will be Sunday, September 28, 2008, from 2 to 5 pm at the funeral home. Contributions may be made to Community Hospice of Amsterdam, St. Mary's Roman Catholic Church or St. Nicholas Ukrainian Catholic Church in care of the funeral home.