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Bogdana was born on the 6th of January 1944. In Ukraine, as most people are Orthodox Christians, Christmas is celebrated on the 7th of January and the Holy Supper is held the day before. The meaning of the name Bogdana is from Ukrainian "Bogom Dana" (eng. "given by God"). 

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Bogdana's father left for the war when she was 3 months old and she was left living with her mother Mariyka and grandmother Yusefa. 

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From early years Bogdana needed to work hard. She was looking after the cow and helping with the housework as her mother was working on the fields.