Olha Petliura | |
Native Name Lang: | uk |
Birth Name: | Olha Bilska |
Birth Date: | 1885 12, df=y |
Birth Place: | Malaya Devitsa, Poltava Governorate, Russian Empire (now Mala Divytsia, Chernihiv Oblast, Ukraine) |
Death Place: | Paris, France |
Occupation: | Former First Lady of Ukraine |
Term Label1: | In role |
Order1: | First Lady of Ukraine |
Term Start1: | 1919 |
Term End1: | 1926 |
President1: | Symon Petliura |
Predecessor1: | Rozalia Vynnychenko |
Successor1: | Mariya Livytska |
Spouse: | Symon Petliura |
Olha Opanasivna Petliura (née: Bilska; 23 December 1885 – 23 November 1959) was a spouse of Ukrainian political leader Symon Petliura.[1] She graduated from the Higher Courses for Women, Kyiv.
Olha Bilska was born on 23 December 1885.In 1908, while she was in Kyiv, she met Symon Petliura. In 1910, they married and the couple took an active part in the life of the Ukrainian diaspora in Moscow, arranging concerts and literary evenings.In 1911, they had a daughter, Ukrainian poet, .[2]
In 1924, they settled in Paris. Olha did embroidery work in order to ensure a decent living for her family.
On 25 May 1926 Symon was shot dead by Sholom Schwartzbard.[3] [4] This greatly affected Olga's health: she fell ill and began to lose her hearing. In addition, her daughter fell ill and continued to live with this illness until 1941, after which she died at the age of under 30 years. Subsequently, her remains were transferred to the cemetery of Montparnasse and buried in the neighborhood with the grave of her father, Symon.
Olga Petliura died on 23 November 1959. She was buried in a family grave at the Montparnasse cemetery near her husband and daughter.