Elizabeth Kopchick of Richmond, died Wednesday September 6, 2006 at Mt. Clemens General Hospital, Mt. Clemens. Elizabeth was born in Wilpen, Pennsylvania on April 8, 1906 and enjoyed 100 years. She was the third child and daughter of Julianna Halowachko and George Hodinka. The family lived in Ligioner where Elizabeth and her sisters attended a one-room schoolhouse. The school semester ended in April. Elizabeth, her older sisters and friends spent the summer months "watching cows" something she always talked about with great fondness. Those were happy years. When Elizabeth was fourteen, the entire family moved to Detroit. Her father had been ailing for several years and it was hoped that the mineral baths in Mount Clemens would be of some help. School in Detroit was a frightening experience for young Elizabeth. Suddenly she was in a school with several hundred children instead of the ten or fifteen she was used to. She would often tell the story of following one of her classmates who wore a yellow dress for a few days. When the girl changed her clothes, she was lost and had to learn the school routine. She completed the ninth grade and then left to work to help support the family. She held several office jobs until she married. Wednesday, September 8,1926 at 8 o'clock in morning was the wedding day of Elizabeth and John Kopchick. The marriage took place at St. Nicholas Greek Catholic Church. The celebrant was Father Taptich. A dinner was served later that day at the home of the bride's family. Unlike the weddings of her daughters and grandchildren where there were hundreds of guests, this wedding was just the wedding party and the couple's parents. Elizabeth had met John when he "courted" her older sister. This union produced two daughters Julianne and Monica and eventually eight grandchildren and eleven great-grandchildren. Their marriage endured fifty years ending with the death of John on February 2, 1977. In the summer of 1977, she moved to an apartment in Richmond to be nearer Monica. There she lived an active life for several years. When her health deteriorated and she could no longer live alone, Elizabeth moved to Mallard's Landing in St. Clair. This is a senior citizen complex. For the past few years "Bets", John's pet name for her, had Dixie Jones as her caregiver. Dixie is an angel. Our family was blessed to have known Dixie and are very thankful to her for the care she gave Mother. Elizabeth passed away peacefully on September 6, 2006 at the age of 100.
Elizabeth is survived by her loving daughters and sons-in-law Julianne and Richard Chapp and Monica and Robert Trautman; seven grandchildren Gary (Helga) Chapp, Jeffery Chapp, Louis (Luann) Trautman, Mary Trautman (Joseph) Leonard, Lorianne Chapp (John) Jeske, Michael (Mary Ellen) Trautman, Sarah Trautman (Scott) Anderson; great-grandchildren, Kevin Trautman, Amanda, Cathrine and Joey Trautman, Amanda and Tony Leonard, Aurora and Noah Chapp, and Elizabeth, Lucy and Kate Anderson; sister Monica Jettke, many nieces and nephews and special friend Dixie Jones.
Elizabeth was preceded by her beloved husband John, sisters Anna Sobren, Julia Foresz, Mary Droder, Margaret Hodinka, brother George Hodinka, grandson Daniel Chapp and granddaughter-in-law Nina Chapp. Her family honors the memory of Elizabeth and invite you to attend a Rite of Christian Burial 11:00 a.m. Monday at St. Augustine Catholic Church, Richmond, with 10:00 a.m. visiting. Fr. James Commyn will officiate. Burial will be in St. Michael's Cemetery, Richmond. Memorials are suggested to Lois Wagner Memorial Library Endowment Fund.