With faith and hope in the Resurrection of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, which we have been preparing to witness during Great Lent, we now mourn the unexpected passing of one of the newest members of our parish, Michael Eugene Sidorick.
Michael journeyed with us throughout these all-revered forty days, having been reunited with the Orthodox Faith through Holy Unction in February while battling for his life at Allegheny General Hospital in Pittsburgh, following critical congestive heart and kidney failure. His tenacious will and desire to know God transformed his life and soul, allowing him to be fully welcomed back into the Orthodox Church through Confession and Holy Communion at Allegheny Valley Hospital during the first week of Great Lent. An avid musician, he played guitar for several Clearfield County rock bands and graduated from Moshannon Valley High School in 1994. Afterward, he worked for six years as a machinist for Lee Industries in Philipsburg before lifelong health challenges prevented him from continuing.
Michael experienced true transformation and hope in his Lord and Savior, personally giving thanks to God for the opportunity to undergo rehabilitation and reconnect with family after a long period of intubation. The day he received Holy Communion, he joyfully called the happiest day of his life. Sadly, Michael fell asleep in the Lord peacefully and unexpectedly at Encompass Health Rehabilitation Hospital of Harmarville on Monday, April 7, 2025, at the age of 49. He finished the race as we pray at every Liturgy: a Christian ending to our lives, painless, blameless, and peaceful, and a good defense before the dread judgment seat of Christ.
Visitation will be held on Thursday, April 10, from 6:00 to 8:00 p.m. at Bennett and Houser Funeral Home in Clearfield, with a Panikhida chanted at its conclusion. The funeral service will be held at 10:00 a.m. on Friday, April 11, at Nativity of the Theotokos (St. Mary’s) Orthodox Church in Madera, followed by interment at Nativity of the Theotokos Orthodox Cemetery. A mercy meal in Michael’s honor will be held afterward at St. Michael’s Hall in Irvona.
Michael was preceded in death by his loving grandparents, Fred and Barbara (Elias) Sidorick and Salvador and Sarah (Hurd) Scrano. He is survived by his devoted parents, Michael (Mike) and Sara (Sally) Sidorick; his brother, Nicholas (Nick) J. Sidorick; his niece, Kaytlynn; and his nephew, Tristen. His return to the Orthodox Church was the lifelong prayer of his family and an answer to our parish’s prayer that the Lord may “add daily to the Church those who are being saved.”
We are grateful to God that Michael was able to experience firsthand the love, comfort, and revelation of Jesus Christ, whom he diligently and sincerely sought his entire life. A fervent seeker of truth, he will be remembered for his intelligence, humility, musical talents, and deep spirituality. Michael loved nature and often found peace in God’s creation, driving in his truck to meditate in the woods near his home. Just last Sunday at the conclusion of the Divine Liturgy, his father, Mike, rightly called his life miraculous, for Michael truly found what he was looking for. He was finally able to share the love of God with his beloved family, who traveled great distances several times a week to be by his side and witness his spiritual rebirth.
Michael will truly be with us this Pascha, as we, like Michael, make our own joy and revelation complete. Michael Eugene, pray to God for us!
In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to Nativity of the Theotokos Orthodox Church. A full obituary and online guestbook will be posted later here.
May Michael’s memory be eternal!