KOKOT, Antonia (nee: Chelemendik) - Passed away in the late evening of Sunday, 27 September 2015 at the Oshawa Lakeridge Health Centre.
She leaves her husband of 69 years, John; three daughters Olga, Mary and Anne; three grandchildren Jennifer, Stephanie and Donovan and two great grandchildren Charlie and Olivia.
Antonia was born in Ukraine on 24 April 1925.
Her early nursing studies were interrupted by the outbreak of WW2 and she was taken to Germany to a labour camp where she worked in a munitions factory. After recovering from a chemical accident which burned her face and, because of her earlier nursing experience, she was given a job in the camp hospital and, after the war, worked for the Red Cross with children. At the end of the war she chose to marry John because he was “clean-shaven and played the violin”. They emigrated from Germany to England and there, they had three daughters, Olga, Mary and Anne.
In 1958 they further emigrated from England to Canada. John arriving first in Oshawa followed shortly by Antonia with her three girls. Finding nursing work in Oshawa proved difficult so Antonia opened a small coffee shop/restaurant/barber shop (for John) on the corner of Bond Street and Gladstone Avenue. When this business was sold 20 years later, Antonia was ready to get involved with her Community.
She was an active member of the Ukrainian Catholic Womens’ League. She loved reciting poetry at many festivals and helped diligently making pyrogy, on a weekly basis as well as at the annual Fiesta Week, at the Lviv Ukrainian Hall. She also wrote a book of her life memoirs which is available in several libraries across Canada. Antonia, known to many as Baba, had a great love of food, flowers, pyrogy and preserves which she shared with all her family, friends, and neighbours.
Many thanks to Doctors Sheila Jin and Vernon Toyanaga who tended to her medical needs for many years; to the staff of Shoppers Drug Mart at the Oshawa Centre for their patience and thoughtfulness; to all her Personal Support Workers for their care and attention and to her many close friends and neighbours for their help and support.
Friends may call at the ARMSTRONG FUNERAL HOME for Visitation on Thursday October 1st from 7pm until 9pm, prayers at 7:30pm.
Divine Liturgy of Christian burial will be held at the ST. GEORGE THE GREAT MARTYR UKRAINIAN CATHOLIC CHURCH on Friday October 2nd at 11am.
Followed by the interment at St. Wolodymyr & St. Olha Ukrainian Catholic Cemetery, Courtice.
Memorial donations are appreciated to the Children of Chernobyl Fund. To place online condolences, please visit armstrongfuneralhome.net.
