Helen Olena Sochan

She was born in Chernihiv, Ukraine to Ivan and Olena Fajewciw. The family fled Ukraine after WWII, and travelled through Slovakia to Germany, where they settled at the Displaced Persons Camp in Regensburg. A young teenager at the camp, “Lila” started her early education and enjoyed many activities such as dance, theater, and art.

From Germany, the family traveled to the USA via ship in 1950 and settled in Philadelphia where Lila attended the Philadelphia Girl's High School. She was also a member of the Ukrainian girl scouts “Plast”, where she met her future husband Ihor at a summer camp. They married in 1954, and started a family in Woodcliff Lake, NJ, where Lila resided until October of 2023.

Lila enjoyed Ukrainian folk dance, performing with the Verkhovyntsi Ensemble of NY in theaters and on stage in the USA and Canada, on TV, and venues such as the Garden State Arts Center, World's Fair and Expo 67. She performed until the age of 55.

Her first job was as a seamstress at John Wannamaker's in NJ. Next, she worked as a draftsman doing mechanical drawings and later, drawings for highway and bridge design at Frankland and Lienhard Consulting Engineers.

After Lila retired, she taught dance aerobics at local venues with multiple weekly classes until the age of 89. She would still be teaching and dancing today, were it not for her unfortunate cancer diagnosis and subsequent illness. She also loved sewing, embroidery and knitting as well as gardening. Her Ukrainian heritage was particularly important for her, and she nurtured this love and knowledge of language and culture in her children.

Lila will be missed by family and friends, and all whom she touched with her positive attitude, energy, humor, thoughtfulness and perseverance. May she rest in peace and join the other angels in Heaven.

Vichnaja Pamjat' – Memory Eternal.

In lieu of flowers, Scouts for Ukraine donations in Helen's ("Lila's") name may be made to "Plast Conference Inc.” with a note "In memory of Helen Sochan) by mail to Plast Conference Inc., P.O. Box 491, Princeton Junction, NJ 08550 (https://aid.plastusa.org/plast-usa-aid-for-ukraine-scouts-for-ukraine-donate/) or alternatively to “Plast Camp-Vovcha Tropa,” by mail to Paul Liteplo, 960C Heritage Hills, Somers, NY 10589-3137 (VENMO:@vovcha-tropa, cell phone digits 3791). with a note "In memory of Helen Sochan")