Ukrainian traditions, roots abound in Westmoreland County

Ukrainian customs are second nature to Mary Alice Hoffer.

She is a pierogi “dough roller” at the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary Ukrainian Catholic Church in Derry Township. A small bowl of pysanky eggs sits on a table full of religious icons in her home. It’s a testament to her roots — and that of others across the region who spent their lives immersed in the culture of the old country.

“I think there was a big Ukrainian community in this area,” said Hoffer, 75, of Derry Township.

Several towns in Westmoreland County became home to Ukrainian immigrants in the late 1800s and early 1900s. They found work, built churches and social clubs and connected with others like them throughout the Pittsburgh region. They settled in corners of the county where industrial and mining jobs were available — Monessen, Export, Jeannette, Latrobe, Slickville and West Leechburg, among others.

There were large celebrations, such as a Ukrainian Day picnic at Kennywood Park in 1936 shown on the front page of the Pittsburgh Sun-Telegraph, and vigils and protests over turmoil in their homeland. The Ukrainian Band of Monessen was formed to play a mixture of Ukrainian music and American tunes and the Arnold Ukrainian Athletic Club’s men’s basketball team had a successful 1939 season, according to the book “Ukrainians of Western Pennsylvania.”

Hoffer’s paternal great-grandfather came to the United States from Ukraine. Hoffer’s family attended a Ukrainian Catholic church that was once on Miller Street in Latrobe and continued when the current Assumption church was built in 1964 along Route 982 with its domes in the Ukrainian Baroque architectural style.

“I was actually one of the first to be married in that church,” she said.

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It was unclear when the church community came together. The Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary Ukrainian Catholic Church just outside New Alexandria was founded in 1906 as a mission from the Assumption church, according to Tribune-Review archives and “Ukrainians of Western Pennsylvania.”

Hoffer recalled all the religious holiday traditions she grew up with — 12 dishes symbolizing the 12 apostles for Christmas Eve dinner and pussy willows replacing palms on Palm Sunday because weather in Ukraine is not conducive to growing them. Her extended family gathers for Easter breakfast, with about 120 people being the highest attendance for the holy day.

She is hopeful that younger generations will continue those traditions such as making pierogies and the intricate egg decorations. Hoffer’s church is gearing up for its annual pierogi sale this week.

“The kids want to learn how to do that,” she said. “It’s a legacy we honestly don’t want to lose.”

But they still might. Churches everywhere and of all denominations have seen decreases in members. For a person who was baptized in her beloved church and spent her life immersed in Ukrainian culture, Hoffer’s not sure how her story will end.

“I always said I want to be buried from my church, but I don’t know if the church will be around,” she said.