Matushka Elizabeth Dolores Kachur, wife of the late Archpriest Stephen Kachur, peacefully fell asleep in the Lord on the morning of October 28, 2020.
She was born on April 27, 1932 to Stephen and Elizabeth Deak in Ashtabula, OH.
“Doly” grew up in nearby Painesville, Ohio, where she met her future husband, Father 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 Father Stephen was pastor of Saints Peter and Paul Church. In November of 1951 Father Stephen was transferred to Saint Michael the Archangel Church in Chicago, IL. There Matushka Elizabeth gave birth to three sons: Stephen (1953), Paul (1954), and Mark (1955).
In 1957, the couple moved to Rankin, PA, where Matushka saw the birth of another son, Timothy (1958), and in 1959 they moved to Edwardsville, PA, where son Matthew (1960) was born.
In 1962, Father 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 Father Stephen’s retirement in August 1978 the couple and their two youngest children settled in Tucson, AZ. Although officially retired, Father Stephen continued to serve in numerous parishes throughout the southwest, always accompanied and 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 earning another reputation as an expert driver of their motor home.
After the passing of Father 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.
Along with being known as Matushka, Elizabeth was blessed to be a Mother-in-Law, Grandma, and Great Grandma. She is survived by Stephen (MaryAnn), (Sam, Guy & Natalie); Timothy (Pamela), (Kim, Kristen (Lily) and Stephen); Matthew (Jonah, Elias); John (Valerie), (Nicholas, Kevin, Sophie); Daria (Harold/Howie). She was also blessed to be a sister (Stephanie Anziano) and Aunt.
She will be buried at Saint Tikhon’s Monastery in South Canaan, PA on Saturday, November 7 at 11am. An offsite Mercy Meal will follow.
In lieu of flowers, please consider donating to Saint Tikhon’s Monastery in South Canaan, PA or Holy Resurrection Antiochian Orthodox Church in Tucson, AZ for the church’s Future Iconography Fund.
May Matushka Elizabeth’s memory be eternal!