Reverend Dr. Nicholas Kostiuk, 83, of Kingston, passed into the hands of the Lord, Wednesday morning, October 10, 2007.
Born May 18, 1924, in Pittsburgh, he was a son of the late Paul and Mary Romanchak Kostiuk. Father Nick was a graduate of the Taylor Alderdice High School in Pittsburgh.
He received his bachelor�s and master�s degrees in teaching from the University of Pittsburgh and received his doctorate degree from Penn State University.
He also received another Master of Arts degree from Villanova University. He did additional graduate work in psychology at Harvard University and the University of Kansas.
Father Nick received his degree in theology from American Catholic University in Washington, D.C., in the mid-1950s.
He was a veteran serving with the U.S. Army Air Corps during World War II and was stationed in England, where he was a radio operator from 1942 to 1945.
From 1946 to 1949 he worked as a social worker and night supervisor for the American Red Cross.
Reverend Kostiuk was a teacher within the Pittsburgh school districts for many years and served as a principal at the Gladstone School.
He worked as an administrator for the Willow Grove School District. He was principal in the Upper Moreland schools, Willow Grove, and served as an instructor at Penn State University and Indiana University of Pennsylvania.
Reverend Kostiuk was ordained into the priesthood on June 24, 1980. He served as an assistant pastor of Saints Peter & Paul Church, Jersey City, N.J. from July 14, 1980 to August 10, 1981 and at the Annunciation of the Blessed Virgin Mary Church, Rutherford, N.J., from July 14, 1980 to October 6, 1980, where he later became the administrator.
Also, he was administrator of Presentation of Our Lord Church, Lansdale, and the Great Church, Quakertown.
He became the pastor of Saints Peter & Paul Ukrainian Catholic Church, Plymouth, and the Holy Transfiguration Ukrainian Catholic Church, Hanover section of Nanticoke.
He was instrumental in building the Holy Transfiguration Church Social Hall and the new Saints Peter & Paul Ukrainian Catholic Church, Plymouth.
He served as pastor from November 5, 1984 until his retirement in February of 1999.
He was preceded in death by sisters Anna Wszalek, Amelia Makitka and Julia Budziszewski; brother Peter.
He is survived by brother, John, of Pittsburgh; numerous nieces and nephews.
A Funeral of Divine Liturgy will be celebrated at 11 a.m. Saturday in Saints Peter & Paul Ukrainian Catholic Church, 20 Nottingham St., Plymouth. Interment will be in St. John the Baptist Ukrainian Catholic Cemetery, Baldwin, Pa. Friends may call on Friday from 2 to 4 p.m. and 6 to 9 p.m. and on Saturday from 9 a.m. until time of funeral at Saints Peter & Paul Ukrainian Catholic Church, Plymouth. Funeral arrangements are by the S.J. Grontkowski Funeral Home, 530 W. Main St., Plymouth.
Priestly Parastas will be sung Friday at 7 p.m. Main celebrant for the funeral will be His Grace, Metropolitan-Archbishop Stefan Soroka, of Philadelphia, assisted by Rev. Roman Petryshak, administrator of Saints Peter & Paul Ukrainian Catholic Church, Plymouth, and area clergy. Sung responses will be led by Rev. Paul Wolensky.
In lieu of flowers, contributions, if desired, may be made to Saints Peter & Paul Ukrainian Catholic Church, Plymouth, or Holy Transfiguration Ukrainian Catholic Church, Hanover section of Nanticoke.
http://www.legacy.com/timesleader/Obituaries.asp?Page=Lifestory&PersonId=95934015Eternal memory! Vicnaja jemu pamjat!
