Mary (Borneo) Kocka

Mary Borneo Kocka, passed away at her home surrounded by her family on Thursday, July 4, 2024.

Her sons, Ron and Jim would marvel at how, even after all she had seen, and all she had been through, she maintained a core of innocence, a kernel of naivete. She took everyone at face value.

She spent her last twenty years in Cameron, North Carolina, the last four of which Ron and Barbara lived with, and cared for her during her increasingly ailing health.

Mary could never work a regular nine-to-five job. Some of her gigs were selling toys at parties, delivering balloons to people while dressed as a clown, teaching aerobics during the height of that craze, and, finally, what was her true calling, being a massage therapist.

Mary had wanted to be a writer when young. She was an avid reader throughout her life. As such, she could speak with perfect clarity and nuance right up to her final days. She may have suffered physically, but she was as far from dementia as a toddler who could already speak three languages.

She had three grandchildren, Joshua, Jessica and Robert, whom she doted on and obsessed over from the second of their births onward.

She loved children, period. In our neighborhood in Levittown, often kids, younger and as they grew into their late teens, would knock on our door just to see and hang out with Mary. That also pertained to a few of our cousins and our younger aunt and uncle.

She loved animals. At one time, she had five cats, and, yes, she laughed that she had now officially become a cat lady. Ron’s dog, Brick, and Barbara’s dog, Stella, were her loyal companions, sitting as sentinels next to her recliner when the kids were out and about.

She was a huge sports fan. She attended many Phillies games, and enjoyed watching football, hockey, basketball, even golf, especially golf. During her final week, she was glued to the TV watching game seven of the Stanley Cup Finals. She viewed Jeopardy every night, and usually got most of the answers, and was also a fan of talent shows like American Idol and The Masked Singer.

One of our most cherished traditions was when we were all together in North Carolina and we would pass around the Sunday crossword puzzle taking turns at various entries until, hours later, we would arrive at the final answer.

She was a Philly Girl who died on Independence Day. There must be something to that!

We will miss her witty conversation, her constant laughter and, most of all, her unconditional love. She was our best friend!

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