Linda Koch

Date of birth: 02/19/1944
Date of death: 12/17/2019

Age of death: 75 years old

Linda "Smokey" Koch passed away peacefully on December 17th 2019 at the age of 75 years old. She is predeceased by her father Garvillio Ovcharov, mother Anastacia Ovcharov, daughter Linda Kucak, son Charles Koch Jr. and brother-in-law Gary Holowka. She is survived by her husband Charles Koch. Linda and Charles were blessed to share both childhood memories together and a love that spanned decades. She is survived by her beloved siblings Maria Holowka, Nicholas (Anne) Olexenko, and Luba (Michael) Davis. She will forever live in the heart of her loving granddaughter Sheila (Jeffrey) Reed and her great granddaughter Grace Reed.

Her brothers-in-law Joseph (Janet) Koch and William (Nancy) Koch will always keep her in remembrance. She is survived by her nephews Joseph (Kerrie) Koch Jr., Gary (Barbara) Holowka Jr., Eric (Jennifer) Holowka, Matthew Koch, Pete (Kitty) Olexenko, Dave (Rebecca) Olexenko, and Nick (Ginny) Rister. Her surviving nieces are Kara Koch, Kirsten (Dara) Koch, Molly (Hannon) Wright and Sarah Rister.

The Kucak family, Taft Family, Reed Family and Hulse family all had special places in her heart as well over the years.

Linda was one of a kind, and someone that you would never forget meeting. She miraculously escaped the chaos of the second world war and was adopted as a small child from an orphanage in Germany. Her family fled war-torn Europe for South America soon after, where Linda grew up. It was there in San Paolo, Brazil that She learned to speak Portuguese and developed a special fondness for the Amazon River and its peaceful tranquility. Linda, her siblings, and their parents came to the United States after being sponsored by extended family in Rochester, NY. As a young girl she met her future husband, Charles, whose family lived on the same street that they moved to.

She famously walked into the offices of Eastman Kodak Company and demanded a job- or she wouldn't leave! She went on to have a successful career there spanning a number of decades, where she worked as a project manager. By then She spoke fluent Ukrainian, Portuguese and English.

Linda took great pride in her Ukrainian heritage and she was known for cooking traditional dishes that her family enjoyed. She was especially revered for her varenyky (pierogi). She loved to travel and had quite an adventurous spirit. Later in life, she was able to return to the Amazon River, which was always a place of beauty and respite for her. Her eyes would light up anytime she spoke of the pink dolphins that danced through its waters. She loved all creatures both large and small, with a particular affection for those of the canine variety. All who visited her home knew of Teddy the pom mix and his continuous, incessant barking that did not seem to phase Linda in the least. His grating, staccato bark providing the soundtrack for any afternoon in her living room. In her younger years, Linda enjoyed creating art and following fashion. She crafted her visions into drawings of elaborate dresses inspired by her Mother, Anastacia, herself a master seamstress.

Her sense of humor was one of her shining attributes and she was well known for making those around her smile. She would frequently catch someone off guard with a punchy one liner. Linda was a woman who spoke her mind and was not afraid to live her life fully.

A celebration of her life will be held on Monday December 30th from 4pm until 7pm at Newcomer Cremations & Funerals 2636 Ridgeway Avenue where a memorial service will follow calling hours at 7PM.