Matushka Julia Romanchak, 100, fell asleep in the Lord on January 11, 2026. A first generation Slovak American, Julia grew up on a farm in Leroy, PA during the Great Depression, and this had a fundamental influence on her values and her path in life. Julia strove for excellence. She was skilled at needlework and had a passion for English and music. She was the only girl among six siblings, and when the boys went out hunting, Julia stayed behind reading. The family eventually moved to Elmira, NY where Julia attended the Elmira Free Academy. She played violin in the high school orchestra, became an officer, and graduated at the top of her class in 1943.
With courage and determination, Julia enrolled in Elmira College. An honor student, she obtained her Associate Degree in secretarial studies in 1947. She subsequently left Elmira for New York City and was employed as a stenographer and notary public at the Waldorf Astoria. At that time, she met Michael Romanchak, and it was love at first sight. Michael and Julia were married in 1951, after which Michael was ordained to the priesthood. Assigned first to Saints Peter and Paul in Syracuse, NY and then to the Holy Trinity in Catasauqua, PA. Devoted to her faith, Julia directed the choir, did the secretarial work, taught Saturday school, sewing, arts and crafts, Russian dancing, catechism, and reading in English and Russian, all while lovingly raising two children.
Despite leading a full life, Julia’s dream was to complete her college degree, so she began night school at Moravian University. Having made the dean’s list, she received a Bachelor of Arts in English in 1972 and was accepted at Lehigh University where she nearly finished her Master’s. She taught English at Catasauqua High School and Middle School but ultimately went back to secretarial work at the Bethlehem Steel from which she retired in 1990. She then conducted the choir at Saint Mary’s Orthodox church in Allentown and only fully retired in 2012 at the age of 87.
Predeceased in 2012 by her husband, Archpriest Michael, of 60 years, Julia is survived by her son, Sergius and his wife, Louise, grandsons, Hierodeacon Marc, Eli and his wife, Salome, and great grandsons, Geele and Ayrick. She is also survived by her daughter, Paula, and granddaughter and namesake, Arianna Julia Cagli.
A visitation will be held at Saint Nicholas Russian Orthodox Church, 980 Bridle Path Road, Bethlehem, PA 18017 on Monday, January 19, 2026 from 5:00 PM to 7:00 PM, followed by a Panikhida served Father Nikolai Breckenridge.
The Funeral will be on Tuesday January 20, 2026 at 10:30 AM at Saint Tikhon’s Monastery, 175 St. Tikhon’s Road, Waymart, PA 18472. Burial will follow in Saint Tikhon’s Cemetery in Waymart, PA. Funeral arrangements were by the Herron Funeral Home in Bethlehem, PA.
May Matushka Julia’s memory be eternal!