Hi Laura,
I dont think your Kurysz family are closely related as these 2 young cousins came out from Germakowka in 1911 via Hamburg to Halifax on the Samland. Jakiw - later known as Jack Kurish - my grandfather -stayed in Canada but we dont know what happened to Hnat - he probably changed his name but what to we dont know. We do know that the 2 cousins had a big falling out and never spoke again. My grandfather died in 1934 only 39 and my fahter was only 2 so all the history died with him. There is another Pelagie Kurysh/z mentioned in Canadian records and she was married to Sapat. Check out messages from "Longview5 - totally frustrated - need help" on this same message board. Did your family only settle in USA or is ther a Canadian connection too?
Keep in touch , Mary-Rose (Australia)