Barbara J. Kocur

Bobbie, as she was known to her friends, was born in Yonkers, NY on January 22, 1936 to John and Euphrosia (Obuch) Shutovech. She attended Yonkers public schools and graduated from Commerce High School in 1953.

On October 19, 1957, Bobbie married William (Bill) John Kocur. They shared 35 years together until his passing on May 7, 1992.

She held several jobs over the course of her lifetime, starting out working for Tom Carvel (of Carvel Ice Cream fame) in his Yonkers headquarters. She then headed to the St. Regis Paper Company in New York City where she worked as a secretary for several years until she took a break to raise her children.

During those years, she was actively involved in her children’s education at St. Michael’s Ukrainian Catholic School. She was a member of the Mother’s Guild, all of whom volunteered countless hours planning events and extracurricular activities for the students. She also helped out in the school library once a week ordering, organizing, and checking out books.

When she was ready to reenter the workforce, she landed at a local business named The Plastic Shop before she found her way to New York Life Insurance Company in Rye, New York where she worked until her retirement in 1998.

In 2013, she relocated to Long Island to be closer to her children and grandchildren. She became very active in her new over 55 Community, serving on several different committees over the years. She could often be found at the Clubhouse enjoying the company of her new neighbors, trolling around the nearby Smithaven Mall, or attending many events at the local Emma Clark Library.

Bobbie loved walking on the beaches in Montauk hunting for seashells, reading Erma Bombeck or political novels, and watching all of the wonderful shows on public television. She never met a Word Search Puzzle she couldn’t defeat, and she was never really hungry, she just always wanted to pick!

She was a devoted wife, mother, baba (grandmother), aunt, and Godmother. She is survived by her daughters, Joyce S. Turner (Marc) and Jacqueline K. Babyak (Steve); her grandchildren, Deanna Rose Turner and Sahmuel Xavier Babyak; her niece Lise Patterson (Michael), her nieces/Goddaughters Karatina Kehoe (Gerry) and Barbara Mahon (Frank), and Goddaughter, Michele Camardella; her grandnieces Dana Neumann (Paul) and Anastasia Mahon; her grandnephews Matthew Patterson, Kyle Kehoe and Colin Kehoe; and her great-grandniece, Amelia Neumann.

She is also survived by several cousins, Ronald Patrick, Dennis Slutak (Lanna), Joan Cahill (Scott), Robert Lagoyda (Becca), and Mary J. Slutak.

Viewing will take place at Whalen and Ball Funeral Home on Wednesday November 8, 2023 from 3:00-7:00 with Panakyhda at 5:00-5:30 pm.

Funeral services will be held at St. Michael’s Ukrainian Catholic Church on Thursday November 9, 2023 at 10am, with interment to follow at St. Joseph’s Cemetery.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in Bobbie’s memory to:

PBS Channel 13 or St. Michael the Archangel Ukrainian Catholic Church