Gizela I. Kocybala

Gizela I. Kocybala (nee Stocky) passed away on Friday, April 25, 2014 at the Dobbs Ferry Pavilion of St. John's Riverside Hospital. A longtime resident of Croton-on-Hudson, she was born in Drohobych, Ukraine where she attended Teacher's College and, as a young woman, managed a dairy cooperative business. In 1945, she married Sviatoslav Kocybala, a lawyer, in Vienna, Austria. In March, 1949, she and her husband emigrated to the United States and settled in Yonkers, N.Y. where they lived until 1967. She attended business school and subsequently was employed by Lord and Burnham in Irvington and later by the Otis Elevator Company in Yonkers. She is survived by her daughter, Dr. Arcadia Kocybala, who cherished her, and by nieces and nephews in the United States and relatives in Ukraine. She was predeceased by her husband of over 60 years. She was also predeceased by her brother, Richard Stocky, and three sisters: Stanislawa Taratusky, Hedwig (Heddy) Czerewko, and Stefania Kobylecky.

Gizela was an avid gardener and landscaper as well as a gourmet cook, especially known for her cakes and tortes. She possessed a remarkable creative flair. Her kind, generous, and charming spirit touched all who knew her. Visitation will be on Thursday, May 1, from 6:30 to 9:00 pm at the Whalen and Ball Funeral Home in Yonkers. Funeral Mass will be on Friday, May 2, at 10:00 am at St. Michael's Ukrainian Catholic Church, followed by entombment at Ferncliff Cemetery in Hartsdale. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in her memory to the Ukrainian Museum and Library of Stamford, 161 Glenbrook Road, Stamford, CT 06902.