Matushka Elizabeth Kachur

Elizabeth Dolores Kachur was born on April 27, 1932 to Stephen and Elizabeth Deak in Ashtabula, Ohio. "Doly" grew up in nearby Painesville, Ohio, where she met her future husband, Fr Stephen Kachur. The two were married at St Nicholas Orthodox Church in Warren, Ohio, on June 14, 1951, and took up residence in Edinboro (Crossingville), PA, where Fr Stephen was pastor of SS Peter and Paul Church. In November of 1951 Fr Stephen was transfered to St Michael the Archangel Church in Chicago. There Elizabeth gave birth to three sons: Stephen (1953), Paul (1954), and Mark (1955). In 1957 the couple moved to Rankin, PA, where Elizabeth saw the birth of another son, Timothy (1958), and in 1959 they moved to Edwardsville, PA, where son Matthew (1960) was born. In 1962 Fr Stephen became the rector of the Church of the Assumption in Clifton, NJ, where the Kachurs saw the birth of son John (1964), the tragic sudden death of son Mark (1964), and finally the birth of a baby girl, Daria (1966). For over sixteen years in Clifton, Elizabeth earned a reputation not only as a devoted mother to her children but also as a mother (Matushka) to the parish, an untiring helper in the ministry, an outstanding cook and gracious hostess to a multitude of visitors, and, upon reentering the workforce, a competent secretary. Upon Fr Stephen's retirement in August 1978 the couple and their two youngest children settled in Tucson, AZ. Although officially retired, Fr Stephen continued to serve in numerous parishes throughout the southwest, always accompanied an​d ably assisted by Matushka Elizabeth. In addition, the couple greatly enjoyed traveling all over America, visiting their children on both coasts and even making it north of the Arctic Circle, with Matushka Elizabeth earning another reputation as an expert driver of their motor home. Along with being known as Matushka, Elizabeth was blessed to be a Mother-In-Law, Grandma & Great Grandma. Stephen (MaryAnn) (Sam, Guy & Natalie) Timothy (Pamela) (Kim, Kristen (Lily) & Stephen) Matthew (Jonah, Elias) John (Valerie) (Nicholas, Kevin, Sophie) Daria (Harold/Howie) She was also blessed to be a sister (Stephanie Anziano) and Aunt. After the passing of Fr Stephen in July of 2000, Elizabeth continued to be a warm friend and provider of hospitality to numerous Orthodox clergy and parishioners as well as her coworkers from Burr-Brown and TI in Tucson and fellow volunteers of Friends of the Library. Elizabeth Dolores Kachur fell asleep in the Lord on October 28, 2000. Memory eternal!