Katherine “Baba” Malyj was born November 20, 1922 in Ukraine and passed away after a battle with cancer on December 15, 2012 at home in Hobart, surrounded by her family. She was preceded in death by her husband of almost 50 years, Mykola Malyj. Katherine “Baba” will be dearly missed by her loving family – son, John (Marianne) Malyj of Merrillville; daughter, Stephanie (Ted) Stanley-Czernik of Hobart; 3 granddaughters, Nycole (James) West of Portage, Mary Malyj of Crown Point and Valerie (Keith) Reimink of Fishers; 5 great-grandchildren, Matthew Malyj, Anne Mari, Jamee & Joshua West and Dean Reimink. She also leaves behind a brother and 2 sisters as well as several nieces and nephews still residing in Ukraine.
Mykola and Katherine immigrated to the U. S. in 1950 from Germany. They set up residence in Gary, IN where Katherine, “Katy” as she was known, worked as a custodian for the Gary School System for 30 plus years. She was a parishioner of St. Michael’s Byzantine Church where she diligently worked making pierogi every Friday since her retirement in 1990 until late 2011. She was also a member of the St. Michael’s Rosary Society. “Baba” lived for her grandchildren and great-grandchildren. She absolutely loved caring for them and spoiling them immensely. “Baba” was a seamstress in her spare time and created beautiful embroidery work as her hobby. She enjoyed being outside and loved going out to eat with her family. She will always be remembered for her tough exterior yet loving nature.
Funeral service will be held on Wednesday, December 19, 2012 beginning at Burns Funeral Home, 10101 Broadway, Crown Point at 9:15 a.m. and proceeding to St. Michael Byzantine Parish, 557 W. 57th Ave., Merrillville for service at 10 a.m., Rev. Basil J. Hutsko officiating. Interment in Calumet Park Cemetery, Merrillville. Friends are invited to meet with Katherine’s family at Burns Funeral Home on Tuesday from 2-8 p.m. Rosary service Tuesday at 2:30 p.m. and prayer service at 3 p.m. www.burnsfuneral.com.
Service details, Social networking, Memorial Guestbook and Slideshow are available here.
