Josephine (Sernulka) Prokup

Josephine Sernulka Prokup, 93, formerly of Warren entered into eternal life on Sunday, November 15, 2015 at Mercy Health St. Joseph Health Center in Warren with her family by her side.

Josephine was born on January 25, 1922 in Pittsburgh, PA.  She was the daughter of John and Anna Tadla Sernulka, who immigrated from Strylbice-Stary Sambor, Ukraine to Pittsburgh; then moving to Warren in 1928.  She attended Warren Schools and worked at Ohio Lamp Works, retiring in 1952 to become a housewife.

On December 24, 1944, Josephine married Daniel Prokup at Sts. Peter & Paul Ukrainian Orthodox Church, Youngstown, where she was a parishioner for 72 years.  Josephine also belonged to the St. Mary’s Sisterhood of the parish.

Josephine loved to cook and bake her Ukrainian holiday foods and loved to spend time with her children, grandchildren, great grandchildren, nieces and nephews.  She also loved to crochet, do Ukrainian needlework, create Ukrainian Easter eggs, and work in the garden with her late husband.

For the past five years, Josephine lived with her daughter and caretaker, JoAnn and her family, Bernie and Joe.

Josephine is survived by three sons; John (Julie) Prokup of Howland, Daniel (Lorie) Prokup of Cortland and Peter (Carolyn) Prokup of Yorktown, VA; one daughter; JoAnn (Bernard) Gnat of Cortland; nine grandchildren; Gina (Kevin) Hake of Liberty, Natalie Isabella of Niles, Jason (Teresa) Prokup of Williamsburg, VA, Alyse (Joseph II) Consiglio of Girard, Eric Prokup of Newport News, VA, Joseph Gnat of Columbus, Nicholas (Jennifer) Prokup of Willowick, John Prokup of Howland and Jessica Prokup of Columbus; seven great grandchildren, Joel and Grace Hake, Brad and Brooke Isabella, Olivia Prokup, Gabrielle and Giovanna Consiglio, and a sister-in-law, Nancy Sernulka of Cortland.

Josephine’s husband, Dan preceded her in death on December 12, 2006 after 62 years of marriage, along with her brothers:  Steven, Nick, Mike, Pete and three brothers and four sisters who died before her family immigrated.

Calling hours will take place on Thursday, November 19, 2015 from 4:00 to 7:00 p.m. in the Sinchak & Sons Funeral Home, 727 E. market St. Warren, OH 44481, where a Panachida Service will be recited at 6:00 p.m. in the funeral home.

A Divine Funeral Liturgy will take place with Fr. John Harvey officiating and The V. Rev Protopresbyter Fr. Kenneth M. Bachofsky, D.Min, co-officiating on Friday, November 20, 2015 at 9:30 a.m. in Sts. Peter & Paul Ukrainian Orthodox Church, 1025 N. Belle Vista Ave, Youngstown, OH 44509, preceded by closing prayers to be recited at 8:15 a.m. in the funeral home with The V. Rev. Protopresbyter Fr. Kenneth M. Bachofsky, D.Min, officiating prior in leaving for the church. 

Burial will follow in Sts. Peter & Paul Cemetery in Youngstown.

The family would like to thank all of the nursing staff and assistants in the Intensive Care Unit and the 3^rd Floor Surgical Unit for all of the wonderful care that they gave to Josephine during her illness and to Hospice of the Valley for making her final days peaceful and comfortable.

Caring and Professional Arrangements for the Prokup family are under the direction of the Sinchak & Sons Funeral Home, 330-392-5691.

Family and Friends may visit www.sinchakandsons.com to view this tribute and share condolences to the Prokup family.