Larissa Dijak (nee Melnychenko), 95 of Schaumburg. Beloved wife of the late Walter Dijak. Loving mother of William (Nicole), Andrew, Alexandra (Stephen) Kuropas and the late Taras (his wife Jeanette; his late wife Maike). Dearest grandmother of Michael, Mariana (Brandon) Paprocki, Cameron, Alex, Roman and Andrew. Great-grandmother of Matthias. Dear sister of Walter and the late Anna. Fond aunt to many.

Larissa was born in the Dnipropetrovsk region of Ukraine, which at the time was part of the USSR. During World War II, her family fled on foot through several countries to escape Russian and German forces. They were later captured by the Nazis and forced into labor. After the war, Larissa spent five years in a displaced persons camp operated by the YWCA in the British Zone.

Larissa immigrated to the United States aboard a U.S. transport ship and arrived at Ellis Island. Her family was sponsored by a relative and settled in Germantown, New York. After relocating to Boston, she met her husband, Walter. They were married in New York City on the CBS television program Bride and Groom. Together, Larissa and Walter raised four children and lived in Stoughton, Massachusetts. After Walter passed away in 1999, Larissa continued to live there until 2002. Forty wonderful years of her life were spent on Connell Drive.

An accomplished soprano, Larissa performed in several operettas within the Ukrainian community. She remained deeply involved with St. Andrew’s Ukrainian Orthodox Church in Boston and contributed her time and energy to numerous other organizations.

In 2002 she moved to Schaumburg, IL to be closer to her daughter. There, she continued to demonstrate steadfast dedication and a strong work ethic through her service at St. Andrew’s in Bloomingdale, Illinois, and later at Holy Trinity Ukrainian Orthodox Church.

She will be laid to rest alongside Walter at the Ukrainian Orthodox Church Cemetery in South Bound Brook, New Jersey.

In lieu of flowers, donations will support a disabled family member in Ukraine.

Visitation will be held on Tuesday, July 7, 2026 from 4:00 pm to 7:00 pm. Funeral Service will begin at 5:00 PM at Holy Trinity Ukrainian Orthodox Church, Bensenville. Interment will be held in New Jersey.