Zvenyslava Ponomarenko

Heaven received a brilliant angel on February 23, 2026. Zvenyslava Vytanovych Ponomarenko, “Dzvinka,” entered heaven, surrounded by love, with the blessing of Christ after a lengthy illness. She was filled with love as an artist. She was an art teacher in Newark, New Jersey for over thirty years. Ballet, church choir (St. George, NYC), and nature were her inspirations. Her favorite pastime was tending roses in her gardens. Zven was born in Lviv, Ukraine in 1938, a twin sister to her brother George Vytanovych, and sister to Areta Halibey. Her parents, Daria and Ilya Vytanovych, fled WWII to arrive in Chicago, Illinois where she was raised as a traditional Ukrainian lady. She leaves behind her brother George, son Dr. Ihor Ponomarenko, daughter in-law Darcy, granddaughter Claire, daughter Xenia Boone, son-in-law Thomas Boone, granddaughter Katherine, and many others to remember her each time they see a painting or smell a dainty rose. Eternal remembrance to her in heaven. We love you forever Mom Dzvinka!

Her wake will be on March 11th from 4-6 p.m. at the Spear-Miller Funeral Home, 39 South Benson Road, Fairfield, CT. Her funeral Mass will be held March 12, at 12:00 p.m. at the Saint Andrew Orthodox Church in South Bound Brook New Jersey. Donations to The Ukrainian Museum in NYC would be appreciated in her honor, https://www.theukrainianmuseum.org/