Obituary of Mary Soja

Mary Soja 1923 – 2018 New York Mills Mary Soja, 95, a lifelong area resident passed away on Tuesday, May 1, 2018 at the St. Luke's Home. She was born in Utica on April 18, 1923 the daughter of Franciszek and Aniela Czyscon Tupaj and attended local schools. She was married to Stanley Soja on September 8, 1946 in St. Stanislaus Church, Utica; a loving union shared for over 58 years until his death on October 30, 2004. Mary was a member of Sacred Heart St. Mary's Church, New York Mills. Mary received her Registered Nursing Degree from King's County Hospital in Brooklyn, NY. She then returned to the Utica area and became a nurse at St. Luke's Memorial Hospital Center. She held many different positions at St. Luke's and in 1963 she became the Supervisor of the hospital's first Intensive Care Unit, a position she held until her retirement in 1986. Her survivors include her daughter Joanne Soja of New York City; two sons Thomas Soja and his wife Maureen Walsh, of Clinton and Richard Soja, of New York City and a grandson, Seth Walsh of Lexington Kentucky; several nieces and nephews and grandnieces and grandnephews as well as her "special friends from the old ICU". She was predeceased by her seven siblings: Frances, Gladys, John, Joseph, Sadie, Stella and Steve. Mary's family would like to express their sincere appreciation to the nurses and staff of the St. Luke's Home for the excellent care and compassion shown to her throughout her stay and to the wonderful people who took care of Mary in her home prior to her becoming a resident of the St. Luke's Home. Relatives and friends are invited to attend her Mass of Christian Burial which will be celebrated on Friday at 10 a.m. at the Church of the Sacred Heart St. Mary's Our Lady of Czestochowa. Those who wish may call on Thursday ( today) from 5 – 7 p.m. at the Kowalczyk Funeral Home, 284 Main St., New York Mills. Burial will take place in St. Stanislaus & Casimir Cemetery. In lieu of flowers the family would ask that you consider a donation to the Faxton – St. Luke's Foundation at (http//:mvhealthsystem.org/donate), as the hospital was such an important part of her life. Light a Candle at: www.kowalczykfuneralhomes.com