Diana N. Kuzmenko

Diana Nikiforovna Kuzmenko was born on August 31, 1949, in the village of Penkovka, Ukraine, in the family of Nikifor and Olga.

On Jauary 6, 2023, early in the morning at our home in Sedalia, Missouri, at the age of 73, she passed into eternity into the Lord’s very presence.

Her childhood and youth were spent in cramped circumstances in difficult, post-war times, experiencing orphanhood, deprivation, separation, hunger, and cold, but from an early age she loved the Lord, and together with her mother and brother, spent time praying and singing praises to God.

In 1966, she married Mikhail Grigorovich Ostapenko, and to this union were born three wonderful children—Anatoly, Olga and Vladimir.

In 1982, when she was 33, her husband Mikhail died, and she was left alone with three children.

Her mother Olga and the Lord remained faithful and never left her and the children.

On January 13, 1985, she married Gregory Vasilyevich Kuzmenko, and on March 25, 1987, our brother Grigory Kuzmenko Jr., was born, which lit up our whole family with joy!

During all the days of her life, Mom Dina experienced the deeds of kindness, care and miracles from the Lord Jesus Christ, and she in return showed care, love, kindness, and mercy to the lonely and sick, orphans, and the elderly.

In 1990, our whole family emigrated to America, to the state of Washington, and between 1999 and 2023, our entire family moved to Sedalia, Missouri, where she lived a fulfilled life, loving and caring for others to her last breath, and seeing 4 generations of her heritage in the Lord.

Along with her husband, Diana is survived by her four children, Anatoliy Ostapenko (Luda) of Sedalia, Olga Kapitula (Alex) of Sedalia, Vladimir Ostapenko (Olga) of Sedalia, and Gregoriy Kuzmenko (Darina) of Sedalia; 12 grandchildren, Michael, Ina, Taras, Nadia, Daniel, Vladimir, Alex, Jr., Diana, Sophia, Elizabeth, Eli, and Levi; and eight great grandchildren.

In addition to her first husband and parents, Diana was preceded in death by a brother Alex Dzekunov.

Funeral services will be held at 10:00 a.m. Friday, January 13, 2023 at Word of Life Church with Pastor Vladimir Dub officiating.

A prayer service will be held from 7:00 p.m. until 9:00 p.m. Thursday, January 12, 2023 at Word of Life Church.

Burial will be at Crown Hill Cemetery, Sedalia.

Pallbearers will be Alex Jr. Kapitula, Taras Ostapenko, Daniel Ostapenko, Vladimir Ostapenko, Dennis Melnichuk, and Michael Ostapenko.

Memorial contributions may be made to Word of Life Church, Ukrainian War Relief.

Arrangements are under the direction of Rea Funeral Chapel.