Obituary of Annastazia 'Stella' Zahirsky

Annastazia (Stella) Zahirsky, 95, fell asleep in the Lord on July 12. She was born May 17, 1918 in Rootstown, Ohio and was a long-time resident of Rootstown. Annastazia graduated from Rootstown High School in 1936 and worked at C.L. Goughler Machine Company in Kent and Goodyear where she met her future husband and later at Lawson's, and Clarkins Store in Kent. Annastazia was preceded in death by her beloved husband, Peter, her parents, Andrew and Kathryn Hluch, younger brother and sister-in-law, Joe and Doris Hluch and her youngest brother, Fred Hluch. She is also preceded in death by her dear friends, Mary Kuyon, Anna Boyko, Vera Utterback, Helen Dubinsky and Julia Dorosa. She is survived by her son and daughter-in-law, V. Rev. Fr. Michael and Matushka Valerie Zahirsky of Steubenville and daughter, Kathryn Zahirsky, her grandchildren, Barbara (Michael) Soroka and Peter K. Zahirsky. Annastazia had one great-granddaughter, Ileana J. Soroka, who was born the day following her suffering a stroke. She has many loving nieces and nephews and her treasured sister-in-law, Madeline Hluch. Annastazia was a member of St. Nicholas Orthodox Church in Mogadore. She served many years as the assistant financial secretary. She and Mary Kuyon started a Church School program for Orthodox children in the Ravenna-Rootstown area. In the early years, travel to attend the church's regular program on Sunday mornings was time prohibitive, so she and Mary held class on Tuesdays. Mom loved participating in St. Nicholas' Something Russian Festival where she worked for many years on the raffle and later in the Russian Tea Room. You may recognize her from the attached picture wearing her Russian headdress. The Zahirsky family thanks the Portage County Sherriff Office, Rootstown ERT, the staff of Robinson Memorial Hospital, and the caring staff of Brimfield Altercare and Fr. Nicholas Wyslutsky of St. Nicholas Orthodox Church for his visits and prayers. We would like to thank all for prayers and hospital visits during her illness. Calling hours will be held Tuesday from 4:00-7:00 p.m. at St. Nicholas Orthodox Church in Mogadore, OH on Rtes #532 & #224, where a Parastas will be held at 6:30 p.m. Funeral services will be Wednesday at 11:00 a.m. at the Church, where the family will again receive friends for one hour prior to the service. Interment will be at St. Nicholas Cemetery on Krumroy Road in Akron. Donations in Stella's memory may be made to St. Nicholas Orthodox Church 755 S Cleveland Ave Mogadore, OH 44260.