Tatiana Osadca “Tania” Demchuk, 77, of Cary, NC, passed away on Thursday, July 26, 2018 at her residence. A native of Lviv, Ukraine, she was born on August 29, 1940 to the late Apollinaire and Tatiana Osadca.
Tatiana was the daughter of an architect and an artist. During World War II her family, escaped war-ravaged Ukraine. They lived for several years in a displaced persons camp in Bayreuth, Germany. The Osadca family eventually immigrated to the United States. Tatiana grew up in New York City where she attended Hunter High School and wrote for the school magazine. Self-aware at the age of 18, she contributed the following essay to the high school magazine.
"I am a great little “girl,” demure and inoffensive and some people even think I am jolly. (What they do not know is that every time I laugh or smile, it is only the Pagliacci in me singing “Ridi Pagliacci.”) I am that melancholy."
"My favorite flower is the Scarlet Pimpernel and I like Wagner, My pet questions are who, what, where, when, and why. From this a skilled analyst may conclude that I have a somber character, a funny disposition and a leaning towards journalism. Also, I would like to write someday."
"My greatest gift to society will be a brilliant essay on the folly of essay writing."
She received her undergraduate degree from Barnard College and a Master of Science from Columbia School of Journalism.
She did go on to become an award-winning journalist writing for Newsday, The Washington Post and The Orlando Sentinel Star. She later worked as a public relations specialist on Capitol Hill and for The National Association of Independent Insurers.
With her husband, Walter, she raised two daughters Luba Dean and Tatiana Guy. After moving to Washington D.C., the Demchuk family became very involved in the Washington D.C. Ukrainian Community and Ukrainian Catholic church. Upon retirement Tatiana and Walter moved to Cary, North Carolina to be close to their grand-children Stefan and Katherine Guy.
She will be forever remembered for her sweet, melancholy nature and her devilish sense of humor. Her life was fueled by curiosity. She could pull a life story out of anyone. Her greatest joys were her family and friends. Her passions were: entertaining, travel, going to the movies, hunting for treasures at garage sales and reading the newspaper. Because one of her favorite newspaper sections was the Obituaries, we hope this one makes her smile and that she would agree that she had a well-lived and interesting life.
Surviving are: daughters Luba Dean and husband Maurice of Chatsworth, CA, Tatiana Guy and husband David of Cary; Grand-children Stefan and Katherine Guy. Sister Christina Pauksis and husband Ivars of Franklin, New York. Also surviving is best friend, Romana Danysh ‘62 of Washington DC, as well as many nieces and nephews.