MARY JEAN KOCHAN

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MARY JEAN KOCHAN On August 13, 2011, surrounded by her family, Mary passed away peacefully after courageously accepting her fate. Mary Jean Kochan was born in Winnipeg on September 16, 1930, a child of Ukrainian immigrants Michael and Sophie Hnatko. The family lived in Point Douglas where along with so many other Ukrainian and East European families they created a rich and vibrant community. Mary attended Norquay Elementary School and then St. John's High School. She loved to learn and excelled in her studies while being involved from an early age in community life at St. Andrew's Ukrainian Catholic Church and Shashkewich Hall. She often spoke of those formative years where she made many lifelong friends, mentioning choir practice with Father Boniface and youth group with Father Pulak, as some of the happiest of her life. In 1951, Mary married Jerry Kochan and they began their life together raising a family of two daughters. She continued to take part in community life especially in the church where Mary joined the Ukrainian Catholic Women's League and sang in the church choir. Early on she learned the value of doing good work and of sharing her time with others, continuing to do so throughout her life. As a young working mother, she encouraged her daughters to make good choices, be fair and kind, to be educated and to contribute. She was an important role model to them and to her granddaughters, sister, brother, and nieces. Following many working years at Eaton's, Mary enjoyed retirement at her home in East Kildonan, working in her garden, actively supporting her granddaughters' activities, travelling to interesting destinations with Jerry and trips to Las Vegas with her daughters and sister. She remained dedicated to her belief in volunteerism and continued to love her weekly schedule of activities; singing with her friends and residents at Holy Family Home, where she was a member of the Ladies Auxiliary, making perogies at Holy Eucharist Church with the proceeds going to various charities, and participating in the seniors club. She recently received her 50-year pin as an active member of the Ukrainian Catholic Women's League. Mary will be loved and remembered forever by her husband and best friend Jerry Kochan, her daughters Alexis Kochan (Nestor Budyk) and Donna Bryk (Tom), her granddaughters Nykola and Nina Bryk, her sister Helen Lisoway (John Hanchuk) and brother Don Hnatko, her nieces Jennifer Cairns (Don) and children Robert, Melanie and Michael, and Susan Lisoway (Stewart Hayek) and children Gillian and Austin, Tom's mother Emelie Bryk, her cousin in Ukraine Emelia Taraschuk and family, Jerry's brothers and cousins as well as many good friends who she always spoke of so highly. Praise to God for Mary's life and for the incredible support and care she received during her short but difficult illness. Thank you to all of the physicians and nurses at Concordia Hospital Emergency and Health Sciences Emergency. A special thank you to the remarkable staff of RR6 HSC Rehabilitation Hospital as well as Dr. Ahmet Leylek and the Palliative Care Team consisting of Dr. Christian La Riviere, Dr. Jana Pilkey and Lisa Streeter. They are all examples of the best of humanity. Thank you to Fr. Taras Kowch, Fr. Michael Kwiatkowski, Fr. Walter Klimchuk and Fr. Bohdan Lukie for their visits and blessings. Divine Liturgy will be celebrated 10:00 a.m. Wednesday, August 17 at Holy Eucharist Ukrainian Catholic Church, Watt and Munroe, with Rev. Dr. M. Kwiatkowski officiating. At Mary's request, cremation and interment will take place at a later date. Flowers are respectfully declined. If so desired, donations in Mary's memory can be made to CancerCare Manitoba or a charity of your choice. There are things that we don't want to happen but have to accept, things we don't want to know but have to learn, and people we can't live without but have to let go. Author Unknown VICHNAYA PAMYAT KORBAN FUNERAL CHAPEL 956-2193

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As published in Winnipeg Free Press on Aug 16, 2011