Remembering Fran Kokonowski

Friends,

With deep sadness, I’m writing to share news that my mom, Fran Kokonowski, passed away on December 23.  As you know, she spent several years battling cancer, and the grace and tenacity of her fight were inspirational to many of us.  In her final days she spun up both of those forces beyond measure.  Even as the weight of her illness got progressively heavier at the end, her smile got brighter and brighter.

I’m pasting a copy of her obituary below, but I want to note that our memorial luncheon will be this Wednesday, December 30, at the Log Cabin in Holyoke, from 12 – 2 pm.  For those who may want to visit and share stories after the Log Cabin event, please join us for an unhosted gathering at the Coolidge Park Cafe, inside the Hotel Northampton, from ~3 pm until the last Franny toast of the evening.

Wishing you good times and warm memories through the rest of this holiday season.  And hoping to share some of those memories of Mom with you later this week.

Please feel free to forward this note. 

Matt Kokonowski Rain

Obituary from the Springfied Republican and MassLive.com

Frances “Choop” Dorothy (Slomback) Kokonowski was born in Chicopee, Massachusetts. She was the daughter of John Slomback and Frances (Semreky) Slomback of New York City.  She was sister to Suzi Slomback, Anne (Slomback) Paul and Jack Slomback. She attended Springfield College after graduating from Chicopee High School.

Choop married Paul Kokonowski who predeceased her in 1976. Paul was a West Point graduate who attended Chicopee High School, worked as an attorney and for the Hon. Congressman Edward P. Boland in Springfield.  Choop raised her children, Matt Kokonowski Rain and Cate Kokonowski in East Longmeadow. For the last 25 years she and her partner Patrick McCarthy lived together at their home in Harwich, MA. She was mother-in-law to Mary Rain and Brian Brown. She was sister-in-law to Michael, David and Tom Kokonowski. Her deepest joy was spending time with her beloved grandchildren Brandon, Quinn, Aiden, Winnie, and Cazimir.

Choop was a widely respected professional in Western Massachusetts, and worked for the Hon. US Congressman Boland, Springfield Institute for Savings (SIS), and then Bank North as Vice President. She moved to nonprofit work with Mercy Hospital/Sisters of Providence in the Development Department, and served on several boards of directors including the Association for Community Living of Hampden County, Children’s Study Home of Springfield, World Affairs Council of W. Mass, Education and Business Alliance for four counties of W. Mass, Dunbar Community Center of Springfield, and StageWest.

Choop was diagnosed with a rare form of cancer in 2012, and received extraordinary care from coordinated teams at Massachusetts General and Cape Cod Hospitals.   During treatment she received warm hospitality from AstraZeneca Hope Lodge in Boston, and then she was instrumental in raising over a million dollars for the support of patients who use that facility. 

The family will have a memorial gathering with a  luncheon buffet at the Log Cabin in Holyoke, MA, on December 30, 2016, from noon to 2 pm.  In lieu of flowers, contributions can be made to AstraZeneca Hope Lodge, Boston; or Hope Hospice of Sandwich, MA.

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