Obituary of Michael Mochnacz

Michael Mochnacz, age 99, of Millcreek Twp., passed away Friday, October 14, 2016 at Manchester Commons, Erie, PA. He was born on February 14, 1917 in Hvizd, Ukraine, the son of the late Ivan and Paraskevia Mychajluk Mochnacz. Michael served with the Polish army during WWII and was a POW in a German camp in 1939. He worked in a labor camp in Germany for most of the war. After the Allies won the war, Michael and his family were in a displaced persons’ camp until they came to America in 1949 and settled in Buffalo, NY. He was employed at Szelagowski Meats, he later ran his own delicatessen and eventually retired from the Ford Motor Co., where he worked in the stamping division. Michael moved to Erie, PA in December of 2011, to be closer to his family. Michael was a member of St. Nicholas Ukrainian Catholic Church, the Ukrainian Fraternal Association (Providence), the Ukrainian Congress Committee of America, and the Ukrainian Patriarchal Society in USA. He enjoyed the news, politics, history, reading, folk songs, Christmas cards, singing songs and reciting poetry in three languages; Ukrainian, Polish, and German, making varenyky, and baking Napoleon (Fr. Pastry). He was preceded in death by his wife Julia Popil Mochnacz in 1969, one sister Anna Demydiuk and one brother Vasyl Mochnacz. He is survived by one daughter Orysia Dail and son-in-law E. Michael Dail, MD, four grandchildren: Lt. Col. Stephen Dail (Julie), Julianna Dail (Brian Russell), Chrystyna Dail (Stephen Shaffer), and Kathryn Dail (boyfriend, Ryan Jacob). Nine great-grandchildren: Riordan, Liam, Brynn, Ewan, Lelia, Emma, Vasyl, Ivan, and Olena. Local arrangements were handled by the Dusckas-Martin Funeral Home and Crematory, Inc., 4216 Sterrettania Rd., Erie, PA. The family would like to thank every care-giver at Manchester Commons who showed kindness to Michael during his stay. Friends may call at the Smolarek Funeral Home, 2047 Broadway St., Buffalo, NY, Friday, November 4, 2016 from 2 to 4 p.m. and 6 to 8 p.m. with a Panachyda Service at 7:00 p.m. A service will be held at the funeral home on Saturday, November 5, 2016 at 9:00 a.m. followed by the Funeral Liturgy at 10:00 a.m. at St. Nicholas Ukrainian Catholic Church, 308 Fillmore Ave., Buffalo, NY with the Very Rev. Marijan Procyk officiating. Interment will follow in Holy Cross Cemetery, 2900 S. Park Ave. Lackawanna, NY. Memorial contributions may be made to St. Nicholas Ukrainian Catholic Church Endowment Fund, 308 Fillmore Ave., Buffalo NY 14206.