From: Roman Sheremeta — Today we buried our grandma, Sonya Veremiy. She was a woman of incredible faith and resilience. Born in Ukraine, she lived a life that seemed straight from the pages of history. Her home had no floors, just earth. Nevertheless, she always kept her home clean and made everything she could herself – from feather-stuffed pillows to hay mattresses.
Baba survived some of history’s darkest chapters. As a child, she saw the Holodomor, a man-made famine under Stalin that killed millions of Ukrainians. She witnessed neighbors wandering her village begging for food, only to be met with empty hands. Shortly after, during WWII, she was nearly executed by Nazis. It was only a miracle that saved her.
After the war, she married Konstantin, a kind man who would later join her in faith. They raised eight children in a home filled with hardship but also love. Baba became a Christian during a time of religious persecution in Soviet Ukraine, attending church in secret to avoid fines and punishments. Despite everything, she stayed strong in her faith, praying for her family and hiding Bibles from the authorities.
In 1996, her beloved husband passed away. A year later, Baba moved to the United States, leaving behind the land she loved to start anew in Cleveland, Ohio. She faced many challenges here, too, learning a new language and culture late in life. But Baba was a survivor, and her strength remained unwavering.
Today, Baba Sonya’s legacy lives on in her children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren. Her family includes doctors, engineers, nurses, entrepreneurs, and missionaries. They carry forward her lessons – to cherish freedom, remain faithful, and never take a single blessing for granted.
Voice of Ukraine 