Myra Karateew
Maryville | Save
It is with love, and gratitude for being part of her life, that we announce the passing of Myra Karateew on Monday, April 4, 2022. Myra died peacefully at home a few days after celebrating her 98th birthday with her family.
Myra was born Volodymira Sydoriw on March 31, 1924, in Khodoriv, a town in western Ukraine near L’viv. Myra’s early years witnessed the arrival of electricity and automobiles to her town. As a teenager, Myra endured the ravages of World War II as her town bore the brunt of brutal fighting between the Soviets and Germans.
In June 1944, near the end of the war, Myra, her parents, and her younger brother fled their home. They took the key to their front door, hoping to return. They traveled by foot on a 7-month journey to Vienna, sleeping in cemeteries, barns, and fields and eating by the grace of strangers. With her grasp of 6 languages, Myra was able to help her family survive by “speaking the right language, at the right time, to the right people.” She took no credit for their survival, saying that it was simply God’s will. Myra and her family lived in post-war Austria for several years in displaced persons camps. In 1949 her family was accepted to the United States and, after a 10-day journey at sea, Myra stepped foot on the shores of her future homeland.
After initially settling in Utica, New York, Myra met her future husband while singing in a Ukrainian Catholic choir. In 1955, Myra married Dr. Nicholas J. Karateew, a linguist and professor of Slavic languages at Syracuse University. They raised their family in Fayetteville, New York, and retired to the Washington, DC area in their later years. In 2005, Myra and Nick moved to Edwardsville, Illinois to live with their son. Myra lost her husband in 2011 after 56 years of marriage.
In her last years, Myra enjoyed her family and beloved pets. She loved flowers, bird watching, and her grandchildren. Myra kept up with her Ukrainian newspapers and remained intellectually curious as an avid student of history and current world events. She never tired of celebrating her Ukrainian heritage and teaching younger family members about their roots. She was proud of both her country of origin and her adopted homeland. Throughout her long life, Myra made many friends by exhibiting kindness, generosity, and sharing wisdom gained from her rich life experiences. Until her passing, she met each challenge with her trademark courage, resourcefulness, and resilience. She will forever be remembered and loved.
Myra is survived by her sons Nick Karateew (Maggie) and Dan Karateew (Brenda), and daughter Suzanne Kingsbury (Steven). She leaves 7 grandchildren: Olivia, Caroline, Nicholas, Hailey, Christopher, Harper, and Nina. Myra is pre-deceased by husband Nicholas, daughter Marie, brother Waldemar, and parents Stefan and Stefania.
In lieu of flowers, Myra would have appreciated donations to help Ukraine. Donations to the World Central Kitchen at https://wck.org/ help feed Ukrainian refugees at the border as well as within Ukraine.
Condolences may be expressed to the family at barrywilsonfuneralhome.com
Barry Wilson Funeral Home & Cremation Services
