ZACHARY, Nina Rudenko, 79, of Richmond, Va., died Sunday, December 31, 2017, surrounded by her family. She was predeceased by her husband, Nicholas Nikitovich Zachary; mother, Motrona Naumovna Rudenko; father, Ivan Havrylovich Rudenko; and brother, Mykola Ivan Rudenko. She is survived by her son, Nicholas Zachary; her daughter-in-law, Julia; granddaughter, Sofia; nephew, Mykola "Mike" Rudenko Jr.; sister-in-law, Irene P. Rudenko; and in-laws, Ivan, Anna and Taras Medjanik. She was born in Ukraine, to parents who had been forcibly removed by German-occupying authorities in Ukraine and sent to Germany. As a small child, Nina, lived with her parents in Ganghofer-Siedlung Displaced Persons (DP) Camp in Regensburg, Germany in the American Allied Occupation Zone. Under the sponsorship of the International Refugee Organization (IRO), she embarked from Bremerhaven, Germany on the United States Army Transport ship, USAT General M. B. Stewart (AP-140), with her parents and her older brother, Mykola to the U.S. in 1949. Upon entering the U.S., the family proceeded to York, Pennsylvania and eventually relocated to Richmond. She grew up in Richmond and graduated from John Marshall High School in 1956 and earned her bachelor's degree from the Richmond Professional Institute/VCU in 1960. She continued her education at Rider University in Lawrenceville, N.J., obtaining her master's degree. Upon graduation from college, she met and married her husband, Nicholas. After his untimely death in 1974, while raising her son by herself, she worked as a high school teacher, an auditor for the State of New Jersey Corporation Tax and eventually retired as a Deputy Director with the State of New Jersey Office of Student Assistance with over 30 years of service. Upon retirement from the State of New Jersey, she moved back to her roots in Richmond. She was a Parishioner of Sts. Constantine and Helen Greek Orthodox Cathedral. She was also a member and past president of the Daughters of Penelope Antiklea 68 Chapter. She was a loving mother who enjoyed spending time with her granddaughter and her family. The family will receive friends from 2 to 4 and 6 to 8 p.m. Wednesday, January 3, 2018, at Bliley's-Central, 3801 Augusta Ave., with a Trisagion prayer service at 7 p.m. Funeral services will be held at 11 a.m. Thursday, January 4, 2018, at Sts. Constantine and Helen Greek Orthodox Cathedral, 30 Malvern Ave. Burial will follow in Mt. Calvary Cemetery, with a memorial meal at the church.