Obituary of Dorothy C. Kopanycia

Catherine Dorothy( née Kulikowsky) Kopanycia, in her 95th year of life, passed away peacefully on September 30th. A beautiful life has ended that began in simpler times when Dorothy was raised by her grandparents on their farm in Yardley, Pennsylvania, after her own parents died at a very young age. Dorothy's years on the farm were retold many times to her children Orest, Peter, Marta Juzeniw and Teresa Belknap. She often spoke of her beloved farm animals and the tomatoes her grandfather would grow and sell to Campbell's Soup Company. She recalled as a teen cutting asparagus in the fields nearby. She had fond memories of Father Stapleton picking up all the local farm kids to take them to catechism at the old St. Ignatius church on Main Street in Yardley. But her finest days, she said, were spent in the company of her cousin, Raymond Kuzma, who would eventually walk her down the aisle when she married Makar Kopanycia in 1952. With Makar, Dorothy transitioned her life from the farm to the Deutzville neighborhood of Hamilton Township, New Jersey. Surrounded by wonderful neighbors and close to her Ukrainian church, Dorothy raised her family while working for more than 40 years as an information operator for Bell Telephone. In their 60th year of marriage, Makar passed away, but Dorothy was able to continue on in the company of her children along with their spouses, her grandchildren, great grandchildren and extended family. Just like on the farm, Dorothy loved the pets she welcomed into the family— from Skippy to Old Gray to her current kitty, Meadow, Dorothy brought kindness and compassion to her furry friends. Kindness and compassion are just two of the many traits Dorothy embodied throughout her life — a life well-lived with selflessness, caring and love for all who were lucky enough to have known this extraordinary woman. Visiting hours are Sunday, October 5, 4-7 p.m., Knott Colonial Funeral Home, 2946 South Broad Street, Trenton, New Jersey, with services/parastas at 7 p.m. Funeral morning visitation and service, Monday, October 6, at 9:30 a.m. Funeral mass will be celebrated at 11 a.m. at St. Josaphat's Ukrainian Catholic Church, 1195 Deutz Avenue, Trenton, with burial at St. Mary's Byzantine Catholic Cemetery,Trenton.