Herta Hirniak of Glen Spey, NY passed away Tuesday February 1, 2011 at the Kingston General Hospital, Kingston, NY. She was 84.

Herta was born in Germany on July 26, 1926, the daughter of the late Walter and Elsie Kolonko Pautsch.

Herta came to the United States in 1949 with her husband, Bohdan Hirniak, who predeceased her.

She and her husband provided Ukrainian Folk Music for the community for 60 years, a popular orchestra that included family members. Herta volunteered at numerous nursing homes, sharing her talents of music, including St. Joseph’s Place at Bon Secours Hospital, where her mother was a resident until her passing in 2009.

She was also an accomplished organist and a minister of music in several area churches, including Most Sacred Heart R.C. Church in Port Jervis, Sacred Heart R.C. Church in Pond Eddy, St. Anthony’s R.C. Church in Yulan and the Pond Eddy United Methodist Church. Herta was a board member with the Town of Lumberland Cultural Series and was known for her desserts.

She was awarded Volunteer of the Year in April 2005.

She is survived by her sister, Renate Haduniak of Glen Spey; son Jurij Hirniak and wife JoAnn of Franklin, NJ; daughters Tetiana Cymbal and husband Victor of Kerhonkson, NY and Ulana Semeniuk of Glen Spey; grandchildren Romana, Melanie, Jurij Jr., Jayde, Victoria and Andrew, niece and Goddaughter Larysa Kinder, nephew Roman Haduniak and several nieces and nephews in Germany.

Memorial services were held Monday, February 7 at the Knight-Auchmoody Funeral Home, Inc., Port Jervis with Rev. John Q. LeCain officiating. Spring interment will take place at Glen Spey Cemetery, Glen Spey.

Donations may be made to St. Joseph’s Place, 160 E. Main St., Port Jervis, NY 12771.