Town unites to ensure Ukrainian war refugee has dignified funeral

Images: Miracle PR

Torbay has come together to say farewell to a Ukrainian refugee who has died — with her family trapped in her war-torn country.

Yuliia Hrytsai, 44, was living in Paignton when she died unexpectedly and alone. But local businesses and the community united to make sure she was given a fitting funeral.

Above: Yuliia Hrytsai

Yuliia was remembered at a service at the Spanish Barn, Torre Abbey, on Saturday, 26 April. The event was attended by members of the public and included tributes from across the community.

Ahead of the service, a short parade and a minute’s silence took place on Paignton seafront. The procession began at the point where the Ukrainian flag was flown on the Esplanade. Seafront lights were illuminated in the blue and yellow of the Ukrainian flag to honour Yuliia’s life and express solidarity with her family and the people of Ukraine.

Representatives from the Royal British Legion also took part, lowering and raising the standard during the silence.

Yuliia  left her home in Liman, a small city in Donetsk Oblast, to escape the devastation of the Russian invasion.

She worked and built friendships here but died unexpectedly. Her parents and sister remain in Donetsk, which is currently under Russian occupation. Her only son, Pavlo, could not leave Ukraine to attend her funeral due to the continuing conflict. He was devastated at the thought of his mother being alone on her final journey.

Above: Yuliia and her son, Pavlo

He sent a recorded eulogy and message of thanks to the people of Torbay, which was played during the service.

The funeral was arranged as a public health cremation. While Yuliia’s savings covered the statutory cremation, local organisations, businesses and Torbay Council departments came together to support the wider service.

Katie Mills Funeral Directors provided additional services free of charge. Flowers were donated by Barton Bouquets and Torbay Clearance Services helped prepare her belongings to be returned to her family in Ukraine. EzyMed, another local Torbay company, will be returning Yuliia’s ashes to Pavlo in Ukraine. The Spanish Barn was made available by Torbay Council’s events and culture team.

The cremation will take place separately at Torquay Crematorium.

Yuliia’s coffin, draped in the Ukrainian flag, was carried in a hearse along Paignton seafront. Close friends followed in a limousine. Ukrainian music was played at the seafront and during the service, including a traditional song of mourning.

A message posted online ahead of the event read: “A heartfelt thank-you to everyone attending Yuliia’s memorial today on Paignton Green. Your presence means so much as we come together to honour her memory.

“In Ukrainian culture, mourning is deeply communal, with friends, neighbours and relatives gathering to support the grieving family through shared prayers, food and cherished rituals. With Yuliia’s family so far away, we want to embrace these traditions and provide the comfort they would receive back at home.”

Tributes were also shared online. One comment read: “We cannot be there due to prior arrangements but would otherwise have come out of respect for Yuliia and her son. Thank you for everything she has given to the community of Torbay.”

Another said: “A sad occasion but so nice to see the community coming together to support this. Definitely something that is needed more these days. RIP.”

Funeral director Katie Mills said: “We have always sought to uncover the most meaningful element of a funeral service for each family. In this case, it was so clearly the heartfelt concern of Yuliia’s son, Pavlo, who couldn’t bear the thought of his mother being alone on her final journey.

“Unlike in our culture, where mourning is much more private, the Ukrainian tradition embraces community support, gathering friends and neighbours to uplift the grieving family. With Yuliia’s loved ones so far away, we were determined to give them that comfort.

“The wonderful people of Torbay responded to our request in the most extraordinary way, surrounding Yuliia with love and warmth.  Ukrainian nationals and what became her adopted UK family came together with love and compassion. Yuliia’s family will forever be grateful for the community that stood with her, in a distant land, ensuring she was never alone on that final journey.”

Simon Crawshay of Torbay Clearance Service, who attended to Yuliia’s home and is returning her belongings to her family, said: “In a world which is increasingly selfish and unkind, our ethos is one of inclusivity and kindness. 

“For us, it is important that Yuliia was remembered as a human being with a loving family, who was trying to make her way in the world, in our part of the world, Torbay.”