Irena Shremko Bereaved mother helping others in need

When Irena Shremko said goodbye to her son Kyril, who was emigrating to Israel from their home near the Ural Mountains, in 2000, the family was full of hope. Kyril would go first, and Irena and her younger son Yevgeny would try to join him later.

Arriving in Israel, Kyril joined the IDF and served for three years with distinction. Upon his release, he found work as a security guard in the Afula mall. All was proceeding as planned.

The family’s dream of being together was brutally exploded on the first day of Kyril’s job, May 19^th, 2003, when he stopped a female suicide bomber at the entrance to the mall. The bomb she was carrying exploded right next to Kyril, instead of in a crowd, as planned. According to police, Kyril’s bravery saved many lives. But he paid with his own.

Irena Shremko was finally located by authorities in their remote home town of Bashkortustan. She and her son Yevgeny were flown to Israel and upon arrival taken to Kyril’s funeral.

Irena remained here, wanting to build her life in the country her son lost his life for. SELAH volunteers accompanied her through the first days of shock and grief and mourning, and then through the long and painful process of returning to the world of the living. A regular participant in SELAH’s healing retreats, Irena soon realized that she, herself, had much to give, and in spite of being so new to the country and having very little Hebrew, she was determined to study social work and make her own contribution. Against all odds, Irena was accepted into the social work program at the University of Haifa, where she is now in her third year of studies. Though intensely involved in her studies, she makes time for others: on a recent SELAH healing retreat for the newly bereaved, Irena came as a volunteer, to support families in need.