Obituary of Fr. Joseph S. Kopchak

Fr. Joseph S. Kopchak Fr. Joseph S. Kopchak, a resident of Highland, entered into rest Thursday, March 5, 2009 at Vassar Brothers Medical Center, Poughkeepsie. He was 64. Son of the late Stephen and Helen Barna Kopchak, he was born March 2, 1945 in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania. He married the love of his life, the former Anna Popowycz, on November 5, 1966 at St. Josephat's Ukrainian Catholic Church in Bethlehem. Mrs. Kopchak survives at home in Highland. He was ordained a priest on July 12, 1968. Prior to his retirement, Fr. Joe was at St. Nicholas Ukrainian Church in Rome, New York. He was most recently attending St. Gregory Orthodox Church, Wappingers Falls. In addition to his wife of forty-two years, Anna P. Kopchak, he is survived by his daughter, Tania Metz and her husband, Steven of Highland; his grandchildren, Nicholas and Basil Metz; his brothers, John, Dmitro and Michael Kopchak; his sister, Theresa Preboznyak and several nieces and nephews. Family will receive their friends on Sunday, March 8, 2009 from 5 to 7 p.m. at St. Gregory Orthodox Church, 1500 Route 376, Wappingers Falls, NY 12590. A memorial prayer service will follow at 7 p.m. at the church. A funeral service will be held at 12 noon on Monday, March 9 at St. Josephat Ukrainian Catholic Church, 1826 Kenmore Avenue, Bethlehem, PA 18018. Interment will follow in St. Josephat Ukrainian Catholic Cemetery, Hellertown, PA. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to St. Gregory Orthodox Church Expansion Fund, 1500 Route 376, Wappingers Falls, NY 12590. To send the family a personal condolence, please visit our website at www.StraubCatalanoHalvey.com.