Ivan Roscishewsky

Ivan Roscishewsky of Ellenville, NY, formerly of New York, NY, North Port, FL and Turka, Lvivska oblast, Ukraine, died on April 7, 2022 in his home.

Born May 11, 1942 a son of Mikhaylo and Maria Roscishewsky, Ivan was raised in Ilnick, Ukraine. He served in the navy for four years, rising to the rank of commander of the engineering room.  Following his time in the navy, he served in the military some years and thereafter he was employed by the City of Turka, Ukraine, as an electrician.  There he met his wife of 52 years, Julia Shlapak. They wed in December 1969, built a home and raised children together in Turka.

As an infant in World War II, Ivan's family was forcibly separated during the Nazi occupation of Ukraine. Remarkably, he would come to reunite with his father who had relocated to New York during the height of the Cold War. He first came to America in 1976 to reunite with his father and returned permanently in 1978 with his young family to the heart of New York City's Ukrainian East Village. There he became an active communicant of Saint George Ukrainian Catholic Church and was an ardent supporter of the Ukrainian American Youth Association.  Every year he would support many Ukrainian cultural organizations and activities including but not limited to kolyada, the St. George Ukrainian Cultural Festival, CYM Festival, capital campaigns for Oselia CYM and Holy Trinity Ukrainian Catholic Church and countless other events which preserved, uplifted and enshrined Ukrainian culture and the Catholic faith. In New York, Ivan worked 28 years at J. Sussman, Inc while simultaneously helming the establishment founded by his father, Blue & Gold Tavern, named for the colors of the Ukrainian flag. 

In 1986, Ivan and Julia opened Karparty Bungalows, a summer rental community in the heart of the Catskill mountains. There, Ivan's passion for caretaking the land, borne many years earlier in his formative years in Ukraine, would take root and flourish. He took special pride in beekeeping, mushroom-picking, keeping livestock, making kobasa and "spiritus", and caring for an immense orchard, lawn and garden alongside his beloved wife, Julia. Karparty was a special place where picnic tables pushed end-to-end would bring neighbors and friends together in kinship, laughter and, very often, songs and stories from the old country. He was a true "hospodar" whose beautiful and bountiful oselia delighted his children and grandchildren over many happy summers. He peacefully went to the Lord in the home he loved under the loving care of his wife and daughter Ludmila.

Ivan was preceded in death by his parents, the late Mikhaylo and Maria Roscishewsky, and brother, Mikhaylo. He is survived by his wife, Julia Roscishewska; four children, Ruslana Rossi of New York, Mikhaylo (Ashleigh) Roscishewsky of New York, Ludmila Roscishewska of New York and Maria (Noah) Hudon of New York; nine grandchildren; Yuliana and Veronica Rossi, Ava, Natalka and Ivan Roscishewsky, and Sonya, Orion, Celeste and Penelope Hudon. He is also survived by a brother, two sisters and many nieces, nephews and extended family in Ukraine.

Funeral arrangements through Humiston Funeral Home (30 42 Nd St, Kerhonkson, NY 12446) with viewing Monday, April 11, 2022 from 3:00 to 7:00 p.m. and Panachyda at 6:00 p.m.  Divine Liturgy will be served by The Very Reverend Dr. Ivan Kaszczak on Tuesday, April 12 at 10:00 AM at the Holy Trinity Catholic Church (211 Foordmore Road, Kerhonkson, NY 12444). Interment will be in the Holy Spirit Ukrainian Catholic Cemetery (141 Sarah Wells Trail, Campbell Hall, NY 10916). 

Memorial contributions may be made in Ivan’s name to the Ukrainian American Youth Association (https://cym.org) and/or Holy Trinity Ukrainian Catholic Church, 211 Foordmore Rd., Kerhonkson, NY 12446.

May his memory be eternal! Vichnaya Pamyat!