Katharina Kostiuk

Katharina Kostiuk (née Weimuller), age 95, of Elyria, entered eternal life on Sunday, January 4, 2026, at Mercy Hospital in Lorain. She passed away peacefully following a brief illness, surrounded by family.

Born on August 19, 1930, in Knittelfeld, Austria, Katharina graduated from high school in Austria, where she learned English. Following the Second World War, Katharina worked as a nanny in Switzerland. At the age of 20, she traveled to and worked in Bradford, Yorkshire, England. There she met her future husband, Dmytro “Jimmy” Kostiuk. While in England, Katharina and Dmytro had their three children. While in England, Katharina became fluent in English and Ukrainian, her husband’s native language. In 1956, the family emigrated to the United States, traveling on the RMS Queen Mary. They eventually settled in Elyria.

Katharina took classes at Lorain County Community College and worked for 26 years as a lead supervisor in the calibration testing department at Gilford Laboratory/Ciba Corning Diagnostics. She happily retired in 1991 to spend more time with her family.

Katharina was an active member of St. John the Baptist Ukrainian Catholic Church in Lorain, where she volunteered countless hours making pierogies and working bingo. She enjoyed cooking and was known for her delicious pierogis and kifflie cookies, and she enjoyed teaching family and friends how to create these delicacies. She also loved knitting and crocheting, creating dolls and sweaters for several of her great-grandchildren. Katharina enjoyed learning and embraced the challenge of learning new knitting techniques. She was tenacious and a perfectionist.

Katharina also enjoyed gardening, reading, and exercising. As a teenager, she dreamt of becoming a physical education instructor, but her greatest love was her grandchildren and great-grandchildren.

Surviving are her children, Sonia (Steve) Pass of Elyria, Michael P. (Barbara) of Grosse Pointe Farms, Michigan, and Maria (Michael) Grega of Lorain; and her grandchildren, M. Peter (Katie) Kostiuk of El Granada, California, Stephanie (Mark) Palchak of Daniel Island, SC, and John Grega (Heather Robertson) of Denver, CO; great grandchildren, Natalie Kostiuk, Miles, Lydia and Grant Palchak.

Katharina was preceded in death by her husband of 64 years, Dmytro “Jim” Kostiuk, who passed away in 2014, and her parents, Franz and Josephine (Kuhberger) Weimuller.

The family will receive friends on Tuesday from 5:00 to 7:00 pm at Dovin Funeral Home, 2701 Elyria Avenue, Lorain, where a Panachida (prayer service) will be held at 6:00 pm. Funeral services will be on Wednesday at 9:30 am in the funeral home, followed by Divine Liturgy at 10:00 am at St. John the Baptist Ukrainian Catholic Church, 3038 Charleston Avenue, Lorain. The Very Rev. Mitred Archpriest Steven M. Paliwoda, pastor, will officiate. Burial will follow in Calvary Cemetery, Lorain.

Katharina’s children would like to acknowledge Rose Senior Living in Avon, where Katharina spent four years making and enjoying new friends, participating in activities, and being a social butterfly. Katharina moved to “The 1907” at Central School Assisted Living in Amherst, Ohio, this past April. She moved closer to her daughter and received exceptional support and care from a truly loving staff at the 1907. As mentioned earlier, Katharina passed away after a brief illness at Mercy Hospital Emergency Room. The physician and nursing staff provided superior care for both Katharina and her family. Katharina’s family wishes to sincerely thank all of the healthcare professionals who made Katharina’s passing so peaceful.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations be made to St. John the Baptist Ukrainian Catholic Church, 3038 Charleston Avenue, Lorain, Ohio 44055.