Honor Helene by Helping Other Ukrainians

In lieu of flowers, your donations will provide homes for seniors who lost their home due to the war in Ukraine.

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Helene’s Love for Ukraine

Being the daughter of Ukrainian immigrants always influenced Helene’s life. Her family spoke Ukrainian at home and kept the traditions of their native country alive.

 

Generations have been touched by her love for her family’s heritage. Her children, grandchildren and great-grands are here because of her love for traditions. Having danced traditional dances as a child, Helene continued to dance them when she attended BYU. Her future husband, George, was also participating in the folk dance program.

 

Help us celebrate the life of Helene and her passion for her ancestral home by helping seniors who have lost everything due to the war. Her children feel this is the best way to honor her legacy of love and her desire to serve others.

Helene and her brother Eugene
Helene holding her daughter with her mother and grandmother
The house was built by Helene's grandfather

Ukrainian Roots

Helene’s father Michael Lysy immigrated from Ternopil area of Ukraine to Ontario, Canada around 1923. He met Susanna Yourchek when he was a door to door salesman, whose parents had immigrated in the early 1900’s as well. Their community was rich with Ukrainian heritage and culture, and she and her siblings (2 brothers and 5 sisters) spoke Ukrainian, learned Ukrainian dance, and participated in many Ukrainian cultural events. They also celebrated Ukrainian holidays with traditional food, which has been passed down through her family and celebrated by many of her children.

Senior Housing efforts in Ukraine

Galina is a spunky 80-year old Ukrainian babyshka (grandmother). She lived in the city of Bakhmut, which has now been leveled. From April to August 2023, she walked from her home to the kitchen she worked under threat of incoming missiles to feed people in need. When the city was completely evacuated, Galina was placed in a shelter where she had 9 feet of space for herself and shared the kitchen, bathroom and common areas with hundreds of people.

 

Today, Galina lives in her own 1-bedroom apartment at a senior village built by To Ukraine With Love and has found friends and companionship.

Your donation to the Helene Barfuss Memorial Fund will provide an opportunity for babyshkas like Galina to have their own place and to feel a part of a community again.