Doris P Koczko

Doris P. Koczko, ninety-nine years old, passed away peacefully on May 15th, 2023 in the state of Florida, where she lived a vibrant life for over 40 years. Doris loved Sarasota Bay/Gulf of Mexico living, listening to Frank Sinatra and Julio Inglesias, playing card games, reading a good novel, and most of all spending time with her treasured family.

She is predeceased by her beloved husband of 59 years, William Koczko; parents, Abraham and Carrie Merson, and brother Paul Merson. Doris is survived by her brother Larry Merson; sons James Koss (Michelle) and Thomas Koczko; daughters, Margaret Leong (Koon Wah) and Patricia Schlaugies (Eddie); grandchildren Susan Marr (David), William Leong and Stephen Schlaugies; and great-grandchildren Gemma and Talia Marr, as well as many cousins, nieces and nephews. Doris was happy to achieve Great, Great, Great Aunt status for 5 super cute New Yorkers and one incredibly cute Kansas City, Kansas GGG niece.

Doris was born in Manhattan on October 26th, 1923, and raised in Brooklyn, where she attended James Madison High School’s Class of 1941. Growing up, she enjoyed summers with her cousins at the family’s country home in Cold Spring, NY. She especially enjoyed learning tennis, and hiking to a beautiful nearby gorge to swim. Doris attended Cornell University to earn a Bachelor of Fine Arts in the College of Architecture, class of 1945. She spent the summer of 1944 at the National School of Painting and Sculpture in Mexico City, and studied under the renowned artist, Diego Rivera.

Doris worked as an interior decorator and textile designer; followed by a long career as an art teacher specializing in oil painting and watercolor. She worked primarily at High School of Music and Art in New York City, and part time at Dominican College in Orangeburg, NY. Doris’s artistic hobbies were stained glass artwork, and studying in studios where she created watercolor and oil paintings.

Doris and her husband Bill, both schoolteachers for many years, lived and raised their four children in NYC suburbs, first in New Milford, New Jersey, and then Valley Cottage, New York. All her children became strong swimmers, due to summers the family spent at the New Milford Swim Club. Doris’s favorite nights out were shopping followed by a hot fudge sundae at the New Jersey Paramus Mall, with sister-in-law Anne. Doris was well known for her special devotion to St. Anthony. Family and Friends near and wide turned to her, since she prayed for the Saint’s intercession, which often helped them to find lost possessions, or to “find their way”.

Retirement began in 1977 on Longboat Key, FL, a “slice of heaven” in the small friendly condo community of Spanish Main. They socialized around tennis, and also golf, which Doris continued until 95 years old. They birded with the adventurous Manatee County Audubon Society. Doris and a friend delivered “Meals on Wheels”, and she also helped with crafts and decorating at church & neighborhood gatherings. Besides the plays, operas, and music concerts of culturally enriched Sarasota, Doris enjoyed watching British comedies on TV, especially “As Time Goes By” with Judi Dench.

Doris and Bill traveled both across country, and to Western Europe, and snowbirded regularly. On their drives up and down the East Coast, they attended many college courses in the Elder Hostel program. They primarily stayed at the Pocono spot, “The Hideout” in Lake Ariel, Pennsylvania, where besides participating in their usual sports, Doris was active in the group “Stitch and Chatter’, who made blankets, etc., for the less fortunate. The retirees loved being in the Northeast, and catching up with their relatives and lifelong friends.

As a widow, Doris continued to snowbird and thoroughly enjoyed visiting her children and grandchildren, in NY, Texas and California. Doris got along great with her first great granddaughter Gemma, by dancing, drawing, playing drums, singing together, reading books, and neighborhood nature walks.

Less than two weeks before passing, Doris had the great pleasure of being reunited with five year old Gemma, and meeting for the first time her second great granddaughter, Talia, who was 8 months old. At Talia’s Baptism, Doris was the Godmother, alongside her son James, the Godfather at at his Church, St. Martha’s in Sarasota, FL. The delightful Italian priest, Rev. Fasto Stampiglia, gave Doris a special blessing at this milestone celebration.

Doris lives on in our hearts, her marvelous spirit and love for all of us.

Memorial Contributions in honor of Doris may be made to Meals on Wheels of Sarasota: mealsonwheelsofsarasota.org (941) 366-6693 or Family Heart Foundation: familyheart.org (626) 583-4674

On Friday July 07, 2023 at 11:15am, a Funeral Service is planned at Church of the Presentation in Upper Saddle River, New Jersey. Also on Friday July 07, 2023, at 12:15pm, all our welcome to a Reception to Celebrate the Life of Doris with Appetizers and Lunch in the Community Room at the Church of the Presentation. On Friday July 08, 2023 at 11:30am, there is a Burial Service at St. John Cemetery (Section 2, Range R, Plot 9) in Middle Village, New York.

Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.palmsrobartsfuneralhome.com for the Koczko family.