Larysa Gubernator

In Loving Memory of Larysa Gubernator

(08-12-1949 — 08-29-2022)
Larysa Kyrylivna Gubernator (affectionately called Lorochka in Ukraine and Busi in the US) left this Earth in the early hours of August 29th at Kettering Hospital, after a series of sudden and very courageous battles with multiple health issues over the summer.
She was born on August 12th, 1949 in Mala Ternivka, Ukraine, to teachers of Ukrainian Language and Literature - Lyudmyla Petrivna Striletska and Kyrylo Panasovych Tyshchenko. She was the fifth of six daughters, who all loved their sister dearly and never stopped doting on her even as they aged. One of their common favorite pastimes throughout the years remained gathering at the outdoor table in the fragrant summer air, under the thick luscious greenery of grapevines strewn with generous clusters of deep-blue grapes, and singing Ukrainian folk songs in melodious harmony.
During her time in school and at the Vinnytsya Pedagogical University, Larysa displayed a multitude of talents. She was a natural activist, a gifted poetess and a public speaker, a dancer, a basketball player, a loyal friend, and the heart of any company. A kind, thoughtful, and caring heart, in fact. Her laughter was contagious and so was her kindness.
Just like her parents and four sisters, Larysa graduated with a teaching degree. She received a Bachelor of Teaching (English language). She taught students grades 1st through 11th her entire life, often interweaving music and poems into their lessons. She taught passionately and patiently, with the immense love and dedication to all her students, no matter their age, grades, and disposition. And they genuinely loved her back. Teaching was her superpower and God-given gift. As well as a life-long purpose.
Larysa dated her future husband Oleg for 10 days in person and 5 months remotely through romantic letter writing, before he paid her a surprise visit in Uzbekistan in 1974, where she was working at the time, spontaneously deciding to get married right then. They sent their parents in Ukraine a telegram, notifying of their big life event that had already happened, causing some shock and confusion. The couple proved, however, that their seemingly rush decision was the right one for them, and remained dedicated to one another for 49 years, being the love of each other’s lives and best friends. Oleg frequently likes to note that they haven’t had a single fight in the last 19 years of their marriage. They held hands on their daily walks and always provided each other exceptional care and companionship.
Right after getting married, Larysa joined her husband to sail the Pacific Ocean on a passenger-cargo ship, where Oleg worked as an engineer-navigator. She remained there for the entire duration of 6 months, before getting pregnant with their first child Ivan. That’s when she developed her love of the Ocean. She treasured that time and all the stories associated with it for the rest of her life. One of her last wishes was to see the ocean one more time, which sadly didn’t get a chance to materialize.
Larysa had a special love for animals. Her first pet as a little girl was a pig named Frosya. The pig loved and protected her little owner, always walking her to and from the gate of their house, and even biting the legs of people who weren’t very nice to her! Later in life, while spending time on the ship, Larysa had a pet monkey. She told a lot of stories, while laughing through her tears, about this naughtiest of pets! She also had a pet goat who loved dancing with Larysa on its hind legs. She loved all the neighborhood cats and dogs, always keeping a treat for them in her pocket. They greeted her excitedly on her daily walks, and knew she was coming long before she got near. The same can be said about all the family pets, whom Larysa loved very much. She had the sweetest, most gentle soul, and it showed in all facets of her life.
Larysa had an enormous love for Ukraine, which was deeply ingrained in her DNA. Her spirit was free: it was fierce and tenacious. With all her might and all her love she wished for the war to be over and for Ukraine to be victorious and free. It caused her a lot of heartache. And even when suffering, Larysa wanted to hear all the news from the home front. Despite crossing the Ukrainian-Polish border in March and physically making it safely to the US, a place she loved very much, half of Larysa’s heart remained at home in Ukraine. The other half was with her family in Dayton.
Larysa was a true blessing to all around her. She was gentle and caring. And loving. Always loving! Her light shone bright onto everyone she met, but especially onto her loved ones. She was an incredible mother, grandmother, wife, daughter, sister, aunt, and mother in-law.
She is preceded in death by her parents Kyrylo Tyshchenko and Lyudmyla Striletska, infant brother Petro Tyshchenko and sister Taina Matorkina. She is survived by her husband Oleg Gubernator; son and daughter-in-law Ivan and Svitlana Gubernator and grandchildren Nadia and Ivan Gubernator; daughter and son-in-law Anastasia and Erich Nagle and grandchildren James, Edward, and Christopher Nagle; sisters Lyudmyla Ermilova, Tamara Smerechanska, Natalya Sokolenko, Tetyana Turdyeva and brother-in-law Rivhat Turdyev; nephews and nieces Oleksandr Bychkov, Svitlana and Lyudmyla Smerechanska, and Albert Turdyev. And many other family, friends, and students.
A Service of Witness to the Resurrection will be held at the Westminster Presbyterian Church in Dayton on Saturday, September 10th at 4:00pm.
In lieu of flowers, Larysa would most wish to have donations made to benefit volunteers in her hometown Kryzhopil, Ukraine, who provide most urgent support (food, clothes, and equipment) to the refugees and defenders on the front lines, some of whom she taught. One of the things Larysa worried about the most lately, was the well-being of her Godson and nephew Albert, who is among the defenders of her homeland. https://gofund.me/d218915c