Anna Smaha

Anna Dumka Smaha died peacefully on Wednesday, December 29, 2010 with her daughter, Maria at her side. Born on Friday, July 4, 1930 in Zniatyn, Sokalskyi Raion, Ukraine, she was the oldest child of Ivan and Stefania Dumka. Staunch Ukrainian nationalists, her parents raised her to love God, Ukraine, and to help those in need. They also nurtured her independent spirit, her vocal talent and her love of poetry and drama. As a young girl, Anna assisted her parents in their support of the Ukrainian Insurgent Army (UPA). She survived the horrors of World War II only to be a victim of Operation Vistula, the forced and brutal resettlement of Poland's Ukrainian Minority. The family's continued support of the UPA led to the arrest of her father and her own brutal questioning in 1953. In 1964, Anna married Wolodymyr Smaha and moved to Syracuse. She became a proud American and loved her adopted country's history and freedom. Anna loved the printed word, history, music, fashion, flowers and all God's creatures great and small. Anna was predeceased by her husband, Wolodymyr and her brother, Orest. Anna is survived by her daughter, Maria Smaha LeGacy of Syracuse and by her brother, Marian (Halina) Dumka; niece Aneta; and nephew, Jaroslaw, all of Poland. Calling hours will be Monday from 4 to 7 p.m. at Buranich Funeral Home, 5431 W. Genesee St., Camillus with a Panakhyda service at 6:30 p.m. A private memorial Mass will be held with burial in St. John the Baptist Ukrainian Catholic Cemetery, Syracuse at a later date. Contributions may be made in Anna’s memory to Ukrainian Catholic Education Foundation, 2247 W. Chicago Ave., Chicago, IL 60622 or to the Humane Assn. of CNY, Inc., 4915 1/2 W. Taft Rd., Liverpool, NY 13088.