Dana Anne Kobyluck

Tribal member Dana Anne Kobyluck “Red Butterfly in the Autumn” died at her home in Oakdale on April 26, she was 58. Dana was born on February 7, 1967, daughter to Maureen (Cooney) Kobyluck and Daniel W. Kobyluck of Oakdale.

Dana grew up in Oakdale and attended Montville High School, graduating in 1985. She took many business courses at Community College of Rhode Island, Three Rivers Community College, and Excelsior College. She started off her sales career as Department Manager at various clothing and jewelry stores, then began her career at Mohegan Sun Casino as the Director of Retail in 1996. In 2001, she took time off work to be a full-time mother of three, while co-owning a small business, Styleworks Embroidery, with her sister-in-law Lori Kobyluck until 2009. This business provided embroidery design and services for Montville Public Schools and the Mohegan Tribe. She rejoined Mohegan Sun Casino as Retail Consultant in 2009. Quickly climbing the corporate ladder, Dana was an Executive Host for Mohegan Sun in 2010, the Director of New Markets in 2012, and finally becoming the Sr. National Sales Manager from 2015 until 2022. Her career at Mohegan Sun allowed her to have a balanced lifestyle between business ventures and family time at home.

Dana was extremely dedicated to her long and exponential career at Mohegan Sun Casino and was passionate about her tribal ancestry. Her grandmother, Roberta Schultz Cooney “Red Bird” was one of four Mohegan Tribal Nonners along with sister Tribal Nonner Pauline Brown “Red Feather”. Roberta served on the Tribal Council and Council of Elders, and was a signed witness to the regaining of the Mohegan Reservation in 1995. Dana told many stories of her loving grandmother Roberta “Gram”, loving aunt Pauline “Aunty Paul”, and loving grandmother “Gramma” Mary (Savosh) Kobyluck. She is cousins to veteran and former Tribal Council Chairman Kevin “Red Eagle” Brown and current Tribal Council Ambassador Mark Brown “Matahga”. Dana never missed a Wigwam Festival, attended many tribal events, and encouraged her children to embrace their strong Mohegan ancestry. She volunteered at many cultural events with her eldest daughter, Danielle.

Dana will be remembered as a driven, creative, fun-loving spirit. Her favorite memo was “Live, Laugh, Love” and she lived her life doing exactly that. When Dana put her mind to something, she was fully dedicated. Her family was everything to her, and she loved every member dearly. She had a love for monarch butterflies, walks on the beach, and 70s & 80s classic rock music such as Stevie Nicks, AC/DC, and KISS. Dana was the eldest of six Kobyluck children. She was predeceased by her younger brother, Daniel W. Kobyluck, Jr. She is survived by her four brothers, Christopher, Matthew, Joshua, and Mark Kobyluck and children Danielle “April Moon” Ida, Stephanie Ida, and Nicholas “Red Arrow” Ida, along with many loving aunts, uncles, cousins, nieces and nephews. She will be buried in the Mohegan Burial Grounds at Shantok.

Burial at Fort Shantok will be private but there will be a celebration of life on June 14th at the Mohegan Sun Earth Expo center from 11am-2pm. All who knew Dana are welcome to attend and say some kind words if they feel moved to. There will be drumming, food, and a memorial book for everyone to sign and share a memory and light a candle. Opening prayer will be at 11am but guests may arrive whenever they are able to, food and memories will be shared throughout the event. My family and I ask that everyone wear the color purple if they are able to in honor of Dana as that was her favorite color.