VALENTINA ZYCH Age 98, passed away peacefully at home on Sunday, April 26, 2020. She was born January 3, 1922 in Ukraine to Stephanie (Jaskiewicz) Sadowski and Johann Sadowksi. She experienced tremendous hardship as a Polish-Ukranian refugee in Eastern Europe during the Holocaust. In 1956, she immigrated from Vienna, Austria with her husband Wladylsaw Zych and son, with the support of her longest and dearest friend, Sophia Pollak. She resided for 45 years on Polish Hill alongside beloved neighbors, before moving to O'Hara Township to live with her daughter and son-in-law. Valentina valued education as the path to greater success and freedom, especially for women. She graduated with a B.A. in 1941 from Tara Shevchenko National University of Kyiv and a Masters in 1965 and Ph.D. in 1974 from the University of Pittsburgh. She was an instructor of Slavic Languages and Literatures at Pittsburgh's universities for 30 years until retiring in 1994. A lifelong learner, she could always be found with a book in her hands, and she adored seeing the flowers bloom every spring. Valentina is survived by her two children, Eleonora Zych and her husband, Carl Trakofler, Jr., and Steve Zych and his wife, Jenny Zych; her grandchildren, Carly Trakofler Ferrone and Walter Zych; her dearest friend, Sophia Pollak and her children, Maggie, Alex, and Bobby. Services and interment private. Memorial contributions may be made to the Greater Pittsburgh Community Food Bank: www.pittsburghfoodbank.org. A private Funeral Mass will be offered at Immaculate Heart of Mary Church. Arrangements by the WALTER J. ZALEWSKI FUNERAL HOME, Lawrenceville. Send condolences post-gazette.com/gb