Obituary of Kay Frances Kopka
Kay Frances Matyas was born in Macomb, Ohio on January 17, 1944. She was the daughter of Frank Matyas and Bessie (Ondrovic) Matyas. In the early 1950’s the family would move to Michigan making Dundee their home. “Cookie” as her father lovingly referred to Kay attended Dundee Schools.
She married Harold Kopka and the couple were blessed with four children. In 1974, Cookie took a position with the Ford Motor Company as a factory worker. A proud member of Local 900 she spent her twenty-four-year career at the Wayne Assembly Plant. She took a medical retirement in 1998.
In her younger years, Cookie was quite the “social butterfly”, always looking forward to spending time with friends and co-workers. She loved polka music and polka dancing. She spent countless hours calling out numbers playing bingo. For many years she was a member of St. Irene Catholic Church in Dundee.
Cookie enjoyed spending time with family, and of course she was especially fond of her grandchildren and great grandchildren. She visited the West Coast as often as possible to see her father in Ocean Shores, Washington. She also made many trips to Metamora, Ohio to visit extended family. Cookie truly appreciated the holidays and family get togethers, with Christmas being her favorite of all.
Kay Frances “Cookie” Kopka, age 78, of Dundee passed away under hospice care on Sunday; June 5, 2022, at St. Joseph Mercy Medical Hospital in Ann Arbor. Her passing was preceded by her parents; a son: Scott Kopka; a daughter: Korinna Phillips; two grandsons: Jason and Ryan Kopka; and a sister: Shirley Sanford.
To cherish her memory, she leaves two sons: Doug Kopka (Heather Moore) and Ken (Valerie) Kopka both of Dundee; a sister: Helen (Rollo) Juckette of Dundee; grandchildren: Drew, Helena, Jake, Nic, Cassidy and Zach Kopka, Kayle (Tyler) Allen and Brevin Phillips; two great grandchildren: Owen Allen and Ashton Kopka.
Friends may gather from 10:00am until 2:00pm on Friday; June 10, 2022, at Merkle Funeral Service, Dundee; 297 Tecumseh Street, Dundee, Michigan 48131 (734) 529-3156. A Funeral Service Celebrating Her Life will follow at 2:00pm also at Merkle’s with Father Gerald Cupple of St. Gabriel Parish, St. Irene Church officiating. Procession will follow to Maple Grove Cemetery for burial.
In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to St. Gabriel Parish, Dundee. Online guests may leave words of inspiration and comfort or share a photo by visiting www.merklefs.com.
