Jeanette Genowefa Kocemba

On July 23rd, 2016 in London, ON of a cardiac arrest at age 81. She lived life with 'few regrets'. Jeanette (Genowefa) Kocemba (nee: Traczewski) was born September 27th, 1934, to a family of 7 children, (4 girls, 3 boys), near the city of Minsk, Belarus. Jeanette immigrated to Canada in 1949 as a 15 year old refugee "without a penny in her pocket", only 4 years of formal schooling and already a life's worth of difficult experiences. Married at 18 to Antoni, (deceased May, 28, 2014). For 63 years, they had fun working, dancing, and socializing together. Jeanette lived life to the fullest and was a magnet for family and friends. She was spirited, opinionated and gregarious, and, seemed to be on everyone's radar. Jeanette had a passion for cooking, music and politics. She was pleased her daughter-in-law Valerie and grandson Justin shared her love for cooking. Jeanette played the guitar and the ukulele and was the senior member of a local Ukulele Club. She was actively involved in politics and campaigned at the Municipal, Provincial and Federal levels and was a former licensed Real Estate Agent and a past President of the Polish Combatants Women's Auxiliary. Our beacon of light, Jeanette was a very curious person with an unquenchable thirst for knowledge and one who led by example. She leaves behind her son Rick of London, son John and his wife Valerie and grandchildren Justin (26) and Evan (21) of Montreal; her brother John Traczewski (Mary Anne) of South Pasadena, FL; her sister Emily Orlan (Jan) of St. Peter's Beach, FL., her sister-in-law Helen Traczewski of Warren, MI., and her North American nieces and nephews: Judy Alaszkiewicz (Ellen), Wanda Traczewski (Cindy), Ed Alaszkiewicz, Rick Traczewski, Elizabeth Compau (Ron), Jeff Traczewski (Holly), John Junior Traczewski, Bob Dziedziczak, Arek Kocemba (Agata) and Zbyszek Plota (Zofia). She also leaves many dear and valued friends including those who provided tremendous emotional and instrumental support the last two years, namely: Marysia Michalkiewicz, Elaine and John Lisowski. Jeanette was predeceased by her siblings Edward, Michael, Judy and Lee. In accordance with Jeanette's wishes, cremation will take place followed by a private interment in St. Peter's Cemetery, London. Expressions of sympathy can be made via email: john.kocemba@gmail.com, cell phone: 416 358 0504, mail: 39 Fenwick Montreal West, Quebec H4X 1P6 or through O'Neil Funeral Home at www.oneilfuneralhome.ca Memorial donations may be made to ALS Canada (www.als.ca) or the London Health Sciences Centre Foundation (www.lhsf.ca).

"You are one of a kind and we will miss you dearly, Jeanette."