Archpriest Michael Zaparyniuk Jr. fell asleep in the Lord on Monday, September 22, 2025. He was 92 years old and leaves behind two grieving families, his relatives and his Church family. He will be greatly missed.
Father Michael was born in Cleveland, Ohio, the son of Michael Zaparyniuk, Sr. and Pani Mary Zaparyniuk. This Zaparyniuk family last lived in Trenton, NJ, where his father, Father Michael Sr., built the Holy Trinity Ukrainian Orthodox church in 1939, for a community that had been founded in 1919. His father, Father Michael Sr. served this parish until his passing in November 1958. In February of 1959, the newly ordained Father Michael, Jr. became the rector. Prior to being ordained, Father Michael was President of the Ukrainian Orthodox League, and attended Bucknell University, graduating in 1955. After graduation, he attended Saint Vladimir’s Orthodox Theological Seminary in Yonkers, NY. In 1957, he married his loving wife, Annette Zelnerowicz, of New Britian, CT. While in Trenton, Father Michael and his wife Annette welcomed five children into this world. Also, during this time, he became involved with the Orthodox Christian Education Commission. In 1968, Father Michael and family relocated to Forestville, CT, calling this their home for seven years. He served the community at Saint Mary’s Ukrainian Orthodox Church, in New Britain, CT, where his wife had been born and baptized.
Father Michael and his family joined the Orthodox Church in America after leaving New Britain in 1974. They relocated to Syracuse, NY where he was affiliated with Saints Peter and Paul Orthodox Church. Subsequently, Father Michael served at Saint Basil’s Orthodox Church in Maplewood, NY and Holy Trinity Orthodox Church in Elmira Heights, NY. Life’s journey then brought Father Michael and his family to Saint Herman’s Orthodox Church in Lake Worth, FL, where he served the church until his retirement in 2015.
Father Michael is survived by his wife, Matushka Annette, and four children: Ruth Sencio, (Sub Deacon Brian Sencio); Michael Zaparyniuk, III; Gregory Zaparyniuk, (Christine Kennedy); Faith Jantzi, (Douglas Jantzi), son-in-law Fernando Tonarely and grandchildren Peter Jantzi and Catherine Jantzi. He was predeceased by his daughter, Anna Tonarely, and his four siblings, Mary Palazey, Adele Powlenko, John Zaparyniuk, and Joanna Michaels. He also leaves many friends and parishioners.
Funeral services for Father Michael is as follows. All services will be held at Saint Herman of Alaska Orthodox Church, 7099 S. Military Trail, Lake Worth, FL 33463.
Friday, September 26
5:00 - 6:30 PM Visitation
7:00 PM Funeral Service
Saturday, September 27
10:00 AM Divine Liturgy
Saturday, October 4
11:00 AM Burial Service and interment at the Orthodox Monastery of the Transfiguration, 321 Monastery Lane, Ellwood City, PA 16117.
In lieu of flowers, please consider making a donation to:
Saint Herman of Alaska Orthodox Church, 7099 South Military Trail, Lake Worth, Florida 33463; St. Vladimir’s Orthodox Theological Seminary, 575 Scarsdale Road, Yonkers, NY 10707; Orthodox Monastery of the Transfiguration, 321 Monastery Lane, Ellwood City, PA 16117.
May Father Michael’s memory be eternal!