The family of Sophie Kopechanski is deeply saddened to share that our wife, mother, grandmother and great grandmother, our friend and mentor, has passed away peacefully at home on May 22, 2017 with her husband by her side.
Mom is deeply mourned by her husband of 73½ years William (Bill) P. Kopechanski. She will be lovingly remembered by her children: Jeanette (Dennis) Napper, Larry (Brenda), Iris (Rick) Peacosh, David (Patricia), Dori, Donna (Dan) Gillies, her grandchildren: Jason (Teri) Napper, Desiree (Craig Delin), Dylan (Carmen), Megan and Tyler Gillies, her great grandchildren: Sophia, Graeme, Eden and Kael, her sisters: Ann Finch and Olga Kowaliuk and sisters-in-law: Anastasia Jacobson and Jean (Manuel) Tanchuk, cousin Mary Kopechanski and numerous dear nieces and nephews.
Sophie was born on November 29, 1925 in Gardenton, Manitoba and grew up on the family farm. She met her life-long love at a dance and after a 4 year courtship, they married on November 14, 1943 and started their family. In 1947, the family moved to Fort Frances, in 1950, to Atikokan and in 1968 to Thunder Bay (then Fort William). Mom had a long and varied work history that she combined with raising her family. She was very proud to attain her high school diploma in the early 1980’s. After “retirement” she and Bill went back to their roots, gardening to provide produce, baking and canning for the farmer’s market and for family and friends. Despite all her hard work outside of the home, family was mom’s main focus. She enjoyed cooking up a storm of traditional Ukrainian dishes for the holidays, impromptu visitors and mini family reunions. In addition, to her handwork with perogy, cabbage rolls and other kitchen creations, she excelled at sewing, quilting, embroidery and furniture refinishing to name a few.
Helen (Alexander) Pow, Mary Kosowan (Nick) Verna, siblings Kopechanski and Peter Dora, mother and father-in-law Tkachuk) and Nicholas Shypit (SophiePredeceased by her mother and father Rewniuk and John (Mary) Tkachuk, sisters-in-law Anne (Bill) Penko, Mary (Jim) Wilkins, brothers-in-law Nick (Jeanine) Kopechanski, Onni Jacobson, Sam Kyryluk, cousin William Kopechanski and cherished nieces and nephews.
If friends so desire, in lieu of flowers donations may be made in Sophie’s memory to the Thunder Bay Regional Health Sciences Foundation-Northern Cancer Fund or a local charity of your choice.
Funeral Services for Sophie will take place at Harbourview Funeral Centre, 499 North Cumberland Street, on Monday, June 5, 2017 beginning at 11:00 a.m. with Pastor Doreen Lankshear-Smith presiding. Visitation will be held one hour prior to the service time. Interment at Sunset will take place at a later date.
