Ella Maria Zamojski Tymchuk, 66, of Lawrenceville, Ga., passed away on
Sept. 26, 2013, at her home following an extended illness.
Mrs. Tymchuk was born on Nov. 19, 1946, in Raclawice Sl., Poland. In 1963, Mrs. Tymchuk came to America thanks to the gratefulness of a Jewish family her parents had hidden from the Nazis during World War II in Poland. Bernard Shapiro sponsored 17-year-old Ella for a short visit to the United States, and she never looked back. She met her husband, Andrew, in New York City, and they were married before her three-month visa expired. That was the beginning of their 49-year love story.
Andrew and Ella moved to Georgia with their four sons in 1972 and raised their family in Gainesville. They were faithful members of St. Michael Catholic Church, involved in Boy Scouts and proud supporters of North Hall High School Athletics. Mrs. Tymchuk was particularly proud of sending all four sons to college, two graduating from Georgia Tech and two from the University of Georgia. Mrs. Tymchuk served as a translator during the 1996 Olympic Games for the Polish and Ukrainian canoe, kayak and rowing teams competing at the Lake Lanier Olympic Venue. She worked for 27 years at Lucent Technologies in Norcross (formerly AT&T and Western Electric) and retired in 2001. Just prior to her retirement, Mrs. Tymchuk moved to Lawrenceville, Ga., with her husband, Andrew, where she resided until her death.
Mrs. Tymchuk is survived by her husband, Andrew; sons and daughters-in-law Alex and Grace Tymchuk, of Acworth; Andy and Tina Tymchuk of Gainesville; Danny and Melissa Tymchuk of Gainesville; and Eric and Kim Tymchuk of Dacula; and grandchildren Matthew, Ashley, Megan, Michael, Lauren, Michelle, Mary Ella, Mary Eloise, Katherine and Augustin. She also has one surviving sibling in Poland, her sister Hania.
With her own special version of the English language, four successful sons and a weakness for a Neiman Marcus sale, Mrs. Tymchuk was a shining example of achieving the American Dream. She had a love for America, but always had part of her heart in Poland, supporting her family in every way possible and returning to visit whenever she could. Mrs. Tymchuk had a gift for making all in her presence feel special and an endless supply of love and warmth that spilled beyond her family to everyone she met. While there will never be another like her, Mrs. Tymchuk's strong faith, fierce love of family, selfless giving spirit and eternal hope and optimism live on in her four sons and 10 grandchildren, an enviable legacy.
Funeral services will be held on Monday, September 30, 2013 at 11 a.m., at St. Michael Catholic Church in Gainesville. Visitation will be Sunday, September 29, 2013 from 4 to 7 p.m., at Memorial Park Funeral Home North
