A daughter of one of the founding families of Holy Trinity Ukrainian Orthodox Church, in Cheektowaga, New York, Julia (nee Zhybaj) Petruczok, passed away at Mercy Hospital, in Buffalo, New York at the age of 90.  The former Julia Zhybaj was born on Tuesday, December 30, 1930, in Ukraine to the late Maria (nee Shuliak) and late Oleksij Zhybaj and then immigrated thru Germany to the United States.

In her early years, she worked as a Welder and Fabricator of Ceiling Grids at Flangeclamp, she was a Seamstress, at New Era Hats, in Eden, New York, as well as organizing and running the kitchen, for several decades, of the Holy Trinity Kitchen and Event Catering, that was run out of the Holy Trinity Ukrainian Orthodox Church, at 200 Como Park Blvd., in Cheektowaga, New York, that helped to raise monies to pay the mortgages on the parish buildings, as well as, working with the Sisterhood of St. Olga Ladies Group, that took care of the Church.

Besides enjoying Gardening and Planting, Cross-stitch, and Embroidering, her greatest love was working in the Kitchen, where one could find every cooking and baking tool known to man, from Ronco Products to quality-made specialty Cooking Utensils.

While in the Kitchen, she cherished the time that she could spend with her Grandchildren and Great-grandchildren, explaining to them their heritage and teaching them her fine art of making Borscht, Pyrohi or Varenyky, and Pastries, especially her specialty "Korovai" a Wedding Cake made with braided bread, traditionally baked from wheat flour and decorated with birds, for which she was always receiving orders for from all over Western New York and Canada.

Julia was predeceased by the Love of Her Life and Best Friend, her beloved husband, the late Max Petruczok, who passed away on, June 16, 2015.

She was the devoted mother of Anatole (Marilyn) Petruczok, Helen (late Larry) Hussey, and Peter (Sonia Sterrett) Petruczok.

A proud loving grandmother of Bridget Petruczok (Matthew) Matzek, Allison (Paul) Kurzel, Christy (fiancé - Patrick Remington) Petruczok, Katherine Petruczok (Eric) White, Julie Hussey, and Lindsey Petruczok, and Great-Grandmother of Avabella Kurzel, Seraphina Kurzel, Henry Matzek and Natalia Matzek.

The dearest sister of Valentina "Viola" (Peter) Makowsky, Helen Zhybaj, Victor (Halyna Antonyshyn) Zhybaj, late Nancy (late Peter) Lobur, and she was also survived by several nieces and nephews.

The family will be present on Friday, July 16, 2021, from 3 - 7 PM at the PIETSZAK  FUNERAL HOME, 2400 William Street (near Harlem) where a Panachida Service will be held on Friday at 5 PM.

Relatives and friends are invited to assemble for a Funeral Liturgy at Holy Trinity Ukrainian Orthodox Church, 200 Como Park Boulevard, in Cheektowaga, New York 14227, on Saturday, July 17, 2021, at 11 AM.

Interment will follow at St. Matthew's Cemetery, West Seneca, New York.