Date: Fri 04-Jul-1997

Publication: Bee

Author: ANDREA

Quick Words:

snapshot-Paproski-Ukranian

Full Text:

SNAPSHOT FOR JULY 4, 1997: OLGA PAPROSKI

Occupation: Dressmaker. I love to sew. I made my own clothes, and then became

a dressmaker. And then, being a farmer's wife, I had to contribute something.

I sewed 15 years for Julia Allen - I must have [altered] 1,000 bride's gowns.

Where were you born: I was born in Youngstown, Ohio, when there was still a

lot of industry there. When I was 3« years old, we moved back to Ukraine and I

grew up there. I came back in 1938, before the war. I really didn't want to

come because I was happy there. At that time, the United States didn't accept

any foreigners because the United States was in poor shape after the

Depression. Only people who were born here could return to live here. My

father couldn't come back. I came back, yet my aunt had to guarantee my living

for one year. Now, the minute people cross the boundary we support them.

How long in Newtown: I got married to Sam Paproski - he was a dairy farmer,

Castle Hill Farm. I came in 1944 when I got married. I lived in this house -

one spot - more than 50 years.

Family: I raised two children, Gloria Paproski Horbaty - she lives in

Wallingford and has two children, Chrystyna and Roman; and my son Stephen

Paproski, he is operating Castle Hill Farm on Sugar Lane, and has two girls,

Stephanie and Shannon.

Pets: A dog and a cat, and I wouldn't be without; they're my friends. The dog

is Piera and the cat, Kitty.

Biggest change in Newtown: We were just like one family. The town was 6,000

population then; now it's 22,000. The town has improved, but has become

estranged to me.

Hobbies: Gardening, sewing, Ukrainian cross-stitch, crafts - I make wreaths

for Christmas, Ukrainian Easter eggs which I taught practically all of

Connecticut - I had workshops. I grow a big crop of raspberries and currants -

they're organic. And I work hard for the Ukrainian organizations to help

[people in] Chernobyl; they're so poor.

Organizations: I do lots of volunteer work. I was past president of the

Dodgingtown Firehouse [Ladies'] Auxiliary. I used to belong to BPW - Business

and Professional Women. I was on the Extension [Service] Council Committee. I

belong to the League of Women Voters, the Ukrainian National Women's League,

the League of Ukrainian Catholics, I'm a member of the sisterhood and the

Ukrainian Congress Committee. I founded the Ukraine Cultural Organization for

Danbury and the area 18 years ago. People don't realize how many people there

are in the United States from Ukraine. There are 53 million people in Ukraine.

I was a member of Farm Bureau, the PTA, and was a Den mother, too. People will

say I'm only Ukrainian, but I'm American, too. [Following my suggestion] the

Dodgingtown Auxiliary planted all the flowers on "Dodgingtown Green" and

installed a flagpole - but somebody stole it the next day. And I organized the

Bicentennial [celebration] in Dodgingtown. Now I plant everything and I will

do it as long as I'm able because it beautifies [the area].

Do you like to read: Yes. I read three Ukrainian papers, The Newtown Bee ,

plus Danbury.

Personal philosophy: I live for the future; I always think about tomorrow. I

don't throw things away, and I plant trees because somebody's going to enjoy

it. I like to help people; I was brought up that way. You see poor people and

you help them. According to our Bible that's what they tell us. I think people

should be more religious. If everybody believed in the Ten Commandments you'd

have a different type of world.