Vasilka S. Gerova

Vasilka Stancheva Gerova
July 25th 1921 - July 22nd 2017
Vasilka Stancheva Gerova was born in Preslav, Bulgaria. She grew up in a loving family in a small tight-knit community near the mountains and had two sisters who were her closest confidantes and best friends. Vasilka's parents were landowners, and from them she learned about agriculture and gained an appreciation for the beauty of nature. Vasilka graduated from the School of Design for Girls, "Maria Luisa" in Shumen under the auspices of the Royal House and the Department of Trade. Vasilka loved fashion and spoke French, but her life changed when she met a young persistent seminarian who wanted her to be his wife.
After marrying Father George, she was completely devoted to her family and to the church. Vasilka and George soon had a baby girl named Ginka and then several years later, a boy, Evgenie (Gene). Wartime was a difficult time to raise two small children and take care of elderly in-laws, but she never stopped caring for them, risking her own life to save that of her husband when she bought medicine on the black market in an attempt to save him from dying from an infection he contracted while in the hospital. Her compassion was boundless, going so far as nursing a baby outside her own family when his mother couldn't feed him herself. Vasilka's love and light flowed like the milk that saved this baby, and everyone who came into contact with her could feel it. Vasilka was the Matushka' of the church, participating in the services through music as she conducted and sang, the true embodiment of God's light as she encouraged others to persevere in their lives through faith.
In 1962 she left Bulgaria in order to give her children a chance to prosper in the United States so they could live the American Dream. Leaving her family and birthplace, which was so dear to her, was not easy. While in her forties, she had to learn a completely new language, new culture and lifestyle, but she did so with grace. Although life was difficult, she managed to learn English, serve in the church as the heart of the choir and congregation, and worked as a designer/seamstress at Hudson's in Detroit, Michigan for 15 years before retiring to the sunny land of Florida.
Vasilka counted herself among the blessed, always amazed and grateful for her life journey that God had led her through. She was able to travel extensively throughout the world, visiting Spain with her daughter and family, and pilgrimaging to the Holy Land, which made a great impression on her. Vasilka remained a devoted grandmother and great-grandmother who even in her late eighties and nineties took care of her great-grandchildren, regaling them with her many stories while teaching them values and tradition.
Vasilka and George lived in their home in Plantation until she had a stroke and was left unable to care for the house and her husband. Shortly after moving into an assisted living facility in Miami, George was hospitalized and died on Easter Sunday, 2016. She continued to live her remaining days in the same facility, looking out the window for signs of her husband. Even in her late age of 95, she remained a patient and generous soul, her love continuing to impact everyone who came into contact with her. Vasilka lived a fruitful and beautiful life as a model of God's compassion. Her family and friends will miss her forever, but cherish her memory and the blessing of her never ending love.