This is my love-filled farewell – not so brief – but relatively short compared to my 94 years on God’s great earth. My birth on February 18, 1930 in a log cabin in Ghost River, Ontario was assisted by an Indigenous lady, Mrs. Countryman, who happened to be passing by. Her assistance was much appreciated by my mother Sophie, she herself having left Poland in the late 1920’s to join my immigrant father, John, in Fort William. She was accompanied by Poland-born brothers, the late Tony (Frances) and John (Elsie) – a family joined after my birth on Canadian soil by the last-born and fourth son, Morris.
To share in this farewell are my children Lisa (Mike Simkanin), Michael (Gloria) and Michelle (Rick St. Croix), my grandchildren Michael Simkanin, Megan, David and Erin (Colin) Chochla, Chris (Katie), Courtney (Drew), Richelle (Nate) and Michael (Nicole) St. Croix, and my great-grandchildren, Jaxon and Liam St. Croix, Paityn, Jordyn and Jacob Dear, and Sawyer, Reese and Stella Friesen - as well as numerous Chochla, Covello, Maronese, Gravina, Zanni and Rigato relatives and in-laws – of particular note, Bob Zanni Sr. and Bill and Lorna Covello of my generation.
Not here, however, are my beloved wife of 57 years, Theresa Covello, our deceased-at-birth daughter Wendy, and Theresa’s siblings, Frank (Emily) Covello, Rosalie (Joe) Maronese, Rita (John) Gravina, Mary Zanni, Joan (Ed) Rigato, and many Chochla and Covello relatives and in-laws who have gone before.
You are invited to join my family in the celebration of my life on Wednesday, November 27, 2024 at St. Anthony’s Roman Catholic Church in Thunder Bay with Visitation beginning at 10:00 a.m. followed by the Mass of Christian Burial at 11:00 a.m.
Cheers and prayerful best wishes, Mike Chochla Sr. (and Theresa also, I’m sure!)
At Mike’s request, donations may be made to the ALS Society, Parkinson Canada or The Heritage Bethammi. The funeral mass will be live-streamed and archived on the St. Anthony’s Parish website.
THE END
Condolences may be made through www.nwfainc.com
