Obituary of Catherine Bednarz

Bednarz, Catherine "Kay" Rochester: Wednesday, July 3, 2013 at the age of 95. Predeceased by her husband Henry and her daughter, Helen Smyth. She is survived by her granddaughter, Elizabeth Monk, grandson, Alexander Smyth, son-in-law, Anthony Smyth and her brother-in-law, John Anderson. Born in Rochester in August of 1917 to Mike Boyko and Julia Malinowski, she was one of four siblings; Mary, Peter, and Alice who also pre-deceased her. She met her husband, Henry Bednarz, at a picnic at St. Stanislaus, when someone accidentally shoved him into her. They got married in 1940, and remained happily married until Henry's sudden death in 1962. Their daughter Helen was born in 1944. Kay was a devoted grandmother who often made the grueling 10-hour bus ride to Ottawa in order to visit Helen and to see her grandchildren. Apart from encounters with family and friends, she also enjoyed bingo and eating out. Her best friend in life was John Anderson, the husband of her sister Alice, who visited her almost every day in the 16 years she spent at The Heritage and St. Ann's. She called him "my angel." Other angels in the past 16 years have been the kind and devoted staff at St. Ann's, especially the team on the third floor, whom the family can never thank enough. Her family will receive friends Friday 4:00-6:00pm at the funeral home (570 Kings Hwy South). Friends are invited to meet the family at the Lake Ave. gate of Holy Sepulchre Cemetery, Saturday 10:45am where her graveside service will be held at 11:00am.