Blanka Kocnarova

Blanka was recently diagnosed with cholangiocarcinoma (bile duct cancer) with metastasis to her liver and lungs just a few short weeks ago. This diagnosis came as a complete shock to her and her family.

Blanka worked tirelessly as an RN in the Hamilton Area for more than 30 years working for Proactive Rehabilitation Opportunities with the Acquired Brain Injury Population at St Peter’s Hospital, a senior care facility, where she cared for thousands of patients. She led a busy and active lifestyle as a single mom of two children, Alexis & Mauricio. Blanka made it a priority to provide her children with a loving, safe and beautiful home and often did odd jobs like housekeeping, gardening and landscaping after work. Always willing to help a friend or colleague she was known to help her friends and neighbours with anything from caring for their pets and helping them get their groceries, to deep cleaning their homes and picking up their medical supplies to doing their gardening for them, simply because it brought her joy to do so.

Blanka immigrated to Canada when she was just 18 years old after being married in the Czech Republic to her daughter’s father, she learned to speak, read and write in English, and dedicated herself to becoming a nurse. Always a kind, organized and extremely thorough nurse, Blanka always did above and beyond the call of duty. Those who were lucky enough to have had her care for them and their families know that her laughter is infectious and makes difficult days so much better. During Covid, Blanka made great efforts to care for her patients, read love letters to them from their loved ones, and kept families up to date on their progress, and took on many shifts for her coworkers to ensure that they would have time off to enjoy holidays and celebrations with their families. Covid took a toll on Blanka but she rarely gave herself time off to rest and take a well deserved break.

A loving mother, Blanka is dedicated to her two children, Alexis and Mauricio, 27 and 18 years of age. Alexis is a talented artist and Mauricio, who just finished Highschool, is working on his apprenticeship to become a stone mason. Blanka’s partner John, has been lovingly dedicated to her and has comforted her and her children throughout this diagnosis. A father figure to Blanka’s children, John will continue to love and support her children as his own in the years to come.

Donations in Blanka's memory can be made to a GoFundMe page that has been set up to provide support to the family. Any support will go directly towards helping her children. The family wish to thank you for your thoughtfulness and generosity. This is a very difficult time for us all.

Friends and Family are invited to attend a Funeral Service which will be held at CRESMOUNT FUNERAL HOME, 322 Fennell Avenue E. on Saturday, October 5, 2024 at 4pm with a Celebration of Life Gathering to follow from 5-9pm.

Online condolences can be left at cresmountfennellchapel.com