Obituary: Ewa Romanyk Blahodatnyj Didow, 95, of Branford

Obituary courtesy of W. S. Clancy Memorial Funeral Home:

Ewa Romanyk Blahodatnyj Didow, a longtime resident of Branford, CT, died on June 15, 2021 at the age of 95.

Ewa, known as “Baba” to her grandchildren and great-grandchildren, led an incredibly fascinating, happy, and long life surrounded by the family and friends she would have done anything for.

Born in Ukraine on September 23, 1925 to parents, Ewa and Wasyl Romanyk, with four siblings, Ewa grew up on a farm, instilling in her, a love for animals. Everyone that knew her has heard the story of the beloved cow she left behind in Germany and her affinity for attracting cats everywhere she went. There was never a time when there wasn’t a cat by her side and cat hair on every surface of the home she was so proud of owning for over 60 years.

At the young age of 16, Ewa left home and ended up on a captivating journey that brought her through Europe and all the way to America, with the kind of stories that should be portrayed in a movie. It was always exciting to hear her tales of travel to Germany through World War II; how she worked on a farm with a wonderful family that took her in; how she learned and pretended to be German so she wouldn’t be taken away to a Nazi camp; her marriage to George Blahodatnyj, Sr. and the birth of their son, George; and how they missed the boat to Australia, bringing them to America instead.

Her stories of her American journey were just as fascinating—landing at Ellis Island with a whole new world to learn about and eventually settling in Connecticut, where she met a man who gave her a job as a waitress in Branford, learning English as she served her customers. This lead to her job of 25 years waitressing at the New Haven Train Station.

She had various other jobs throughout her lifetime, but her final job was at Echlin, building car parts, which was the job she retired from at the age of 75.

For years after that, Ewa would continue to dream about her work, which she missed every single day.

But Ewa’s greatest love, besides going to the casino as much as she could and caring for the beautiful garden in her yard, was for her family and lifelong friends. Up until she was 91-years-old, Ewa was the one taking care of everyone else, giving rides to friends, bringing food to them, and entertaining people at the soup kitchen, where she loved to have lunch. Even after she could no longer drive, she still helped to care for her great-grandson.

Her strong spirit would never let her give up until her last breath, when she was finally ready to let go to be with the God that she so firmly believed in.

Ewa is survived by her son George and daughter-in-law Mary-Ellen Blahodatny, daughter Bohdana B. Rousseau, grandchildren Brandon Rousseau and Lara Rousseau, and great-grandchildren Rocco Rainn Rousseau and Ryan Rivers Rousseau.

Services will be held at W.S. Clancy Memorial Funeral Home at 244 N. Main Street in Branford Tuesday morning at 10:00. Visiting prior to funeral from 9:00 - 10:00. Burial will follow in St. Agnes Cemetery, Branford.

In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to the Dan Cosgrove Animal Shelter, 749 East Main Street, Branford, CT 06405 or to Forgotten Felines, 153 Horse Hill Road, Westbrook, CT 06498.