With faith in Christ and in the hope of resurrection, we share the news of the repose of our alumnus, Leonard W. Soroka, who fell asleep in the Lord on Sunday, March 10 after a difficult battle with cancer.
Born in 1950, the son of Archpriest Vladimir and Matushka Olga (Konik) Soroka, he graduated from Iona College, New Rochelle, NY and Saint Vladimir’s Orthodox Theological Seminary, Yonkers, NY before embarking on his vocation as a choir director that spanned over 45 years. He served as choir director at Saint John the Baptist Church, Passaic, NJ; Holy Resurrection Cathedral, Wilkes-Barre, PA; Saint Mary’s Cathedral, Minneapolis, MN; and Holy Trinity Cathedral, Chicago, IL. Most recently he served as choir director at Saint George Antiochian Orthodox Church, West Saint Paul, MN. He also was widely known for editing and publishing several collections of liturgical music, including two volumes featuring festal and Holy Week selections.
He is survived by his son Aaron Soroka, daughter Kyra (Shane) Dunn, and their mother, Kathleen Kirkendall. He is further survived by his sister Donya (Paul) Yewisiak; brothers Michael Soroka and Archpriest Thomas (Matushka Joni) Soroka; and three grandsons, five nieces and two great nephews.
Visitation will begin at 4 p.m. on Wednesday, March 13, at the Kozlak-Radulovich Chapel, 1918 University Avenue NE, Minneapolis, MN, where a Parastas will be celebrated at 6 p.m. Visitation will resume at 10 a.m. on Thursday, March 14, at Saint George Church, 1250 Oakdale Avenue, West Saint Paul, MN, after which the Funeral Service will be celebrated at 11 a.m. Interment will follow at Saint Mary’s Cathedral Cemetery, Minneapolis, MN.
May Leonard’s memory be eternal!
Sections of this article have been reprinted from OCA.org.
