MYSTIC, CT., SPRINGFIELD ~ Alexandra (Tkalich) Dikan, 94, formerly of Springfield and the Fairview section of Chicopee, passed on to the Lord on Tuesday, November 28, 2017 at the Mystic Healthcare Rehab and Nursing Center. Alexandra was born in 1923 in the Ukraine where she lived until 1942 when she made her way alone across war torn Eastern Europe. She eventually found shelter in Bavaria at a Nazi work camp where she and other refugees were put into forced labor. It was there she met her future husband, Nicholas “Mikola” Dikan, whose family also from Ukraine, she befriended. They all labored at the camp until it was liberated by the American Army at the end of World War II. Alexandra and Mikola were married in January of 1946 in Ickelheim, Germany as well as Mikola’s sister, Vera, who married George Proulx of the Army Air Corps. Alexandra and Mikola remained in Bavaria, where their son Peter was born, until 1950 when they immigrated to the United States. Settling in the Fairview section of Chicopee with the help of George and Vera Proulx, their second son Paul was born. Alexandra and Mikola became naturalized United States citizens in 1958 and were extremely proud Americans. Alexandra unfortunately lost Mikola to cancer on September 10, 1972 and remained a widow. Deeply faithful, she was a long standing member of Saints Peter & Paul Russian Orthodox Church in Springfield, where she was the choir director for many years. After retirement at various retail positions including “Dorothy Dodd” and “The Children’s Place”, she moved to Linden Towers in Springfield to be closer to the Church. Alexandra was extremely devoted to her family and truly loved spending “precious” time with them. She was an exceptional cook and took special pride in preparing traditional Ukrainian foods especially during Orthodox Feast days. Eventually as time took its toll, Alexandra moved to the Mystic Nursing Center to be closer to her retired son, Peter Dikan and his wife, Ana, of Mystic, CT. Alexandra is also survived by her son, Paul Dikan and his wife, Debbie, of Naples, FL and Chatham, MA; her grandchildren, Michael Dikan and his wife, Debbi, of Topsfield, MA, Nicholas Dikan and his wife, Prarthana, of Newton, MA, Andrew Dikan and his wife, Alyssa, of Wakefield, MA, Jennifer Dikan-Mackay and husband, Dr. Duncan Mackay, of Philadelphia, PA; her great grandchildren, Tanner, Gabrielle, Vikram, Priya, and Reid; and her niece and nephew, Margaret and George Proulx. Her family will receive friends on Saturday morning, December 9, 2017 from 9 a.m. to 10:30 a.m. at the St. Pierre – Phaneuf Springfield Chapels, (413-737-1177), 7 Chapin Terrace, Springfield, MA 01107 followed by an Orthodox Funeral Service at 11 a.m. in Saints Peter and Paul Russian Orthodox Church, 118 Carew Street, Springfield, MA 01104. Her burial will follow the Service at Oak Grove Cemetery 426 Bay Street, Springfield, MA 01109. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions in Alexandra’s memory may be made to Saints Peter and Paul Russian Orthodox Church, PO Box 2843, Springfield, MA 01101-2843. For more details, please visit: www.stpierrephaneuf.com