Tatiana Ribacioc

Tatiana Boychuk Ribacioc, 85, passed away peacefully at her son’s home in Berrien Springs surrounded by her family on June 15, 2015.  A private graveside ceremony will be held at Rose Hill Cemetery on June 17, 2015.  Friends of the family wishing to send an on-line condolence may do so at www.heritage-chapel.com.  Arrangements are entrusted to Heritage Chapel & Cremations Services of Berrien Springs. Tatiana was born January 12, 1930 in Zaikani, Moldova to Pavel and Stephania Kiseleva Boychuk.  On February 25, 1948 she married her loving husband, Stepan Ribacioc in Moldova where they lived until 2012.  They enjoyed married life for 67 years. She is survived by her children, Piotr (Rachilea) Ribacioc of Berrien Springs, Emiliya (Gregor) Peterson of Northern Michigan, Pavel (Antonina) Ribacioc of Washington State, Leontii (Alla) Ribacioc of Moldova and Ivan (Valentina) Ribacioc of the Ukraine; 12 grandchildren; 17 great-grandchildren; two sisters Anastasiia Boychuk of Washington State, Maria Boychuk of Moldova and one brother Grigorii Boychuk of Moldova.  She was preceded in death by her parents, two brothers, two sons, and three grandchildren. Tatiana was a loving wife and mother; hardworking, caring and a very generous person.  She was a Bible and Sabbath school teacher, possessing a beautiful voice singing with the choir and as a soloist.  She was dedicated to the Lord, encouraging her children to be active in the Lord’s work and church activities having morning, evening devotions and prayers with them daily.  Her family always knew she was praying for them and waiting for them to visit.  Their friends were always invited as she loved and accepted them like her own children.  She and her husband educated four pastors in Moldova and have several grandchildren who carry on the pastoral life and traditions. Tatiana did not know a stranger. She accepted everyone and provided help whether it was shelter, food, clothes, money or home-made medicinal remedies she would make herself.  She collected herbs from all parts of her village, prepared and shelved them until someone needed them – free of charge.  As her village was very poor, without water and little or no medical aid people would travel for miles seeking her help.  Villagers would give her name and directions to her house to those looking for a night’s shelter.  She also took in a few elderly people who had no one to help them at the end stage of their lives until they passed.  Someone’s sorrow was her sorrow. She was always there to help.  She baked bread in Russian ovens (12 huge loaves at a time) supporting and helping her family constantly working with her hands.  She knitted wool socks, mittens, made wool wall carpets at night when she was free from the garden and work in the community tobacco fields to make money.  In later years, being unable to move and confined to a bed, she knitted cotton bandages to be sent to countries abroad to help leprous people.  It gave her great joy.  Her greatest expression of joy, however, was to say, “I am so happy all my children and grandchildren know God and are in the Church.  I love my children very much and would give my life for them.  I give you my blessings and assure you we will meet again.”