Remembering Marie Yanowsky
Marie L. Yanowsky was born in 1926, in South River, NJ, the youngest of five children. She attended liturgical services at SS Peter & Paul Russian Orthodox Church in South River with her father, the church cantor, and learned both Church Slavonic and Russian.
She and her husband, Nicholas, met at the church where Marie sang in the choir and was in the Russian dance troupe and Nicholas played in the balalaika orchestra.
After marriage in 1952, they moved to the Washington, DC area for work, and soon thereafter joined St. Nicholas Cathedral, which was then on Church Street in Washington, DC. They settled in Springfield, VA. Their twins, Barbara and Elizabeth, born in August 1955, were the first children baptized in the present St. Nicholas location in October 1955.
Marie sang in the Cathedral choir and became a decades long Sunday School teacher under the guidance of Mrs. Helene Tolstoy. She also directed and produced the Cathedral's elaborate "Yolka" Christmas Programs for many years, which showcased the talents of our Cathedral youth.
Marie had a career with the Federal Government after the birth of her third child, Thomas, in 1966. She was a decades-long breast cancer survivor, manning the “Y-Me After Breast Cancer” telephone Hotline for over 20 years. She was an avid baker, donating her nutrolls for auction to local charities, and baking Prosphora for the Cathedral for over 30 years. She also served as an Election Official in Fairfax County, Virginia for 35 years, considering it to be an important civic duty.
Marie was also an avid supporter of the Orthodox Christian Mission Center, and monitored the OCMC Agape Canister at the Cathedral candle counter and at several restaurants. Marie was recognized by the Orthodox Church in America for her long years of service with a gramota in 1991.
Marie died on January 11, 2012, after a lengthy struggle with dementia. In addition to her three children, Marie and Nicholas have eight grandchildren and three great grandchildren. She is buried with her husband, Nicholas, who died in April 2015, at the Quantico Military Cemetery, Quantico, VA.
May her memory be eternal!
