Pauline (Shewczyk) Hamarich, 98, of Vestal, fell asleep in the Lord on Tuesday, March 22, 2022, at UHS Wilson Memorial Hospital surrounded by her loving family. She was born on October 13, 1923, in Cohoes, NY to the late Joseph and Anna Shewczyk.
She was predeceased in 2008 by her loving husband of 60 years George Hamarich Sr. As the last sole survivor of her family, she was predeceased by her siblings, Metro (Olga), Ellen (John), Perky (Dottie), Peter, Joseph, Mary (Walter), and her nephew, John.
She was the beloved mother to: Matushka Patricia (Fr. Deacon Mark) Bohush, George Jr. (Barbara) Hamarich, Paula (Ronald) Murphy, and Mary (Daniel) Binkewicz. She was the devoted and caring grandmother/baba/babee to: Scott (Jennifer) Hamarich, William (Danielle) Hamarich, Sarah, George and Joseph Murphy, Andrew Bohush, Paul, Kristen (Jason), Jessica Binkewicz, and Melissa (Bryan) Wagner. She was also great-grandmother to: Alex, Samantha, Matthew, Taylor, and Dean Hamarich and special great-baba to her very precious and cherished “girls” Mackenzie Mary and Meredith Rose Wagner who gave her so much happiness and were her pride and joy in her last years.
Our mom was a hairdresser until she got married and started her family. She then became a full-time mom to her four children. Later, she became a cafeteria and hall monitor at Harry L. Johnson Elementary School. She was active in the PTA, Grade Parent Program, and Music Booster Club at Johnson City. She was a member of SS Peter & Paul Russian Orthodox Church, past member of St. Mary's Orthodox Church in Endicott, a Sunday school teacher, member of the church choirs for many years along with being a member of the Pan-Orthodox Choir.
She enjoyed cooking, baking, singing, reading, watching Hallmark movies, and keeping holiday traditions along with hosting family get togethers. She frequently shopped from Avon and Hallmark while buying Barbie Doll ornaments for her granddaughters for the legendary “Barbie Doll Tree” created in her honor by her daughter, Mary.
But most of all, she loved to take care of and spend time with her family who meant the absolute world to her. Mom cared for her grandchildren from when they were infants to even the present day before her last breath. She was also a dedicated caregiver to her husband until his death. Her strength, resilience, compassion, selflessness, and generosity will be her legacy and inspiration to our entire family. She will be deeply missed by her family, and we will take comfort knowing that she will always be watching over us.
The family would like to extend a heartfelt thank you to UHS Wilson Memorial Hospital ER, NT3 and ST5 for their amazing and compassionate care of our mom. We also extend our sincerest gratitude to her family who selflessly devoted their time and effort in being present in her care over the past few months and years.
A funeral service will be offered on Monday at 10am at SS Peter & Paul Russian Orthodox Church, 210 Hill Avenue, Endicott with Very Rev. Alexey Karlgut officiating. Entombment will be at Riverhurst Cemetery, Endwell. The family will receive friends Sunday 4-6pm and Monday 9-10am at the church.
In lieu of flowers, kindly consider contributing in Pauline's memory to either the American Heart Association, 7272 Greenwood Avenue, Dallas, TX 75231, American Diabetes Association, P.O. Box 7023, Merrifield, VA 22116-7023 or to her church.
“You are the love of my life, the reason I live and breathe, my sunrise, my sunset, and my everything and that's that!”
Kindly share your reflections of Pauline on her guestbook at CHOPYAK-SCHEIDER.COM.