Peter Bojarczuk

SCHENECTADY - Peter Bojarczuk entered the Gates of Heaven on February 10, 2020 surrounded by his loving wife and family. He was 96 years old and lived a full life.
Peter was born on July 13, 1923 in Uvyn, Ukraine a small farming village in Western Ukraine. He was the son of the late Wasliy and Maria (Trytko) Bojarczuk. Peter enjoyed a quiet and peaceful life until age 17 when he and many of his fellow Ukrainians were constricted to fight in the Ukrainian Army during WWII. Peter fought on the front lines in Yugoslavia and Austria for 3 years. He was lucky enough to survive the battles of war. Towards the end of the war, while in Austria the Ukrainian Army surrendered at which time Peter became a POW. He was in POW camps in Rimini Beach, Italy for one and a half years and transferred to a POW camp in Scotland. He was 24 years old when he was released from POW camp. Not being able to return to his homeland in the Ukraine, Peter chose to remain in Scotland. While in Scotland Peter went on a blind date and met a beautiful Italian girl from Alife Italy, name Rita. They fell in love and never looked back. Peter and Rita married in Glasgow, Scotland on May 10, 1958, remaining in love 61 years until Peter’s passing. They started their family in Scotland with the birth of their first born Anthony. In 1962, Peter and Rita decided to take a leap of faith and move to America. They first settled in Detroit MI, to live close to Peter’s sister Theodosija and her husband Mykola. After a short time in Detroit, Rita wanted to move to Schenectady where she had many cousins, aunts and uncles. In Schenectady they raised their three children, Anthony, Irene and Peter. Peter briefly worked at Vita Rich Bakery then at Ellis Hospital for 25 years before his retirement. Peter embraced both the American and Italian and cultures. He truly enjoyed making wine each year as many did in the Goosehill neighborhood. Peter continued to make wine in his basement until he was 95 years old. You could always find Peter tending to his magnificent gardens, which he did well into his 90’s. In leisure, he enjoyed watching sports; a fan of the Buffalo Bills, the NY Mets and World Cup Soccer.
What was most important to Peter and became his labor of love was helping Rita jar tomatoes, making sauce and preparing dinner for the family. He enjoyed working on the house and fixing anything that needed to be fixed. Working with dad on fixing the house were some of the most fun and memorable times for us kids. Peter loved the holiday cookouts, and looked forward each year to the annual visits from the Detroit relatives.
Peter was a loving husband who could never say no to his beloved wife Rita and he was ok with that. Although Peter was born 100 percent Ukrainian, Rita made sure he left this world at least 51 percent Italian. If you know Rita, you will understand.
He was the perfect father and grandfather, who loved his entire extended family. Peter was an intelligent, hardworking and strong willed man who persevered in life. He was a man of great faith and a devout catholic and a communicant of St. Anthony’s Church.
He was truly a wonderful and loving person who began and ended each day with his beautiful smile.
Peter was predeceased by his brother, Gregory and sister, Hanji Bojarczuk (Uvyn, Ukraine), son-in-law Roger LaPointe; brother-in-law Mykola Palmarchuck.
Peter is survived by his loving wife of years Rita Cennerazzo Bojarczuk; children, Anthony (Anna) Bojarczuk, Irene LaPointe and Peter (Linda) Bojarczuk; grandchildren, Nicholas, Bianca and Peter Bojarczuk; sister, Theodosija Palmarchuck; nephews Peter (Connie), Wally (Kelly) and niece Mary Palmarchuck of Detroit MI. He also leaves behind extended family members throughout Europe that includes nieces and nephews in Scotland, Uvyn, Ukraine, England, Italy and France.
Services will be held on Saturday at 12 noon from the Rossi & Ditoro Funeral Home, 501 Union Street followed by a Mass at 12:30 pm at St. Anthony’s Church, Seward Place. Entombment will follow in Most Holy Redeemer Cemetery, Niskayuna.
Relatives and friends are invited and may call at the Rossi & Ditoro Funeral Home on Saturday from 9 am until 12 noon.