Adelya Antonovna Godlevska

December 3, 1930 - May 23, 2011

Adelya Godlevska passed away after a long illness, on May 23, 2011. Her final days were spent in the loving care of her family at her daughter Irina’s home, where she had lived for over six years. She is survived by daughters Irina and Svetlana, son-in-law Oleg, and her grandchildren Christina, Anthony, Alena and Natalia. Her Story Adelya was born in 1930 in East Ukraine, in the village of Kropyvnia. She survived the famines of 1933 and 1937, which took the lives of five of her siblings. Later, she was witness to the horrors of WWII, and then endured the hardships brought by the famine which followed in 1947. Remarkable as it is, Adelya graduated from high school that same year. The school was located in a village 5 kilometers away, which meant she walked 10 miles a day, no matter what the weather, to attend class. “She was very clear about the value of education, and always did everything she could to excel in life,” shared her daughter Irina. After graduation she went to earn money and food in Western Ukraine. Once the famine was over, she spent time working to establish a life in Kiev, moving there in 1951. She worked hard, and shared everything she had with those she loved. Adelya met her future husband Ivan Godlesvsky in Kiev in 1954, and they were married in 1955. Together they had two daughters, Svetlana, and Irina. Svetlana and her two daughters Alena and Natalia still reside in Kiev. Irina, her husband, Oleg, and their children welcomed Adelya to the United States, and into their home, on December 6th, 2004. They were proud to help her celebrate her citizenship just last year, on August 20th, 2010. Adelya leaves them with many wonderful memories, and stories of the ‘old country.’ She loved to cook traditional dishes for her family, and gardening was her absolute passion. There was so much life, love, and joy in this woman’s heart, and her memory will live on in hearts of her family, her friends, and all who came to know her. “God let us have her as long as he could. The last days we were together were such a blessing to all of us,” offered Irina. “All that is good in me I owe to my loving mother.” The Services Both the viewing and the Funeral Mass will be held at Holy Virgin Cathedral, in San Francisco. Interment will follow the Funeral Mass at the Serbian Cemetery, in Colma. Her family requests flowers to be sent to one or both of the services. “After all, Adelya loved to garden, and flowers brought her great joy.” The Viewing Thursday, May 26th, 2011 5:30-7:00 pm The Funeral Friday, May 27th 10:00 am ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Holy Virgin Cathedral 6210 Geary Blvd San Francisco, CA 94121-1822 Serbian Cemetery 1801 Hillside Boulevard Colma, CA 94014-2871