Obituary of Stella Sorochtey

Sorochtey, Stella Rochester: Peacefully on Tuesday, July 7, 2015 at the age of 94, Stella passed away and was welcomed into heaven by her loving husband Stephen; brothers, Frank (Eleanor) & William (Dottie). She is survived by her daughters, Jan (Cliff Harvey) Sorochtey & Carol (Gary) Alcott; granddaughter, Sasha Alcott; niece and nephews, Judy McCabe, William & Bruce Chmylak, Earl Sprague. Stella was born to Mathew and Anna (Bratus) Chymlak on August 26, 1920. Her parents emigrated from Ukraine (Austria at that time) in 1913 and 1914, respectively. She grew up in Rochester, New York, primarily on their farm on Beechwood Drive in the town of Gates. She graduated from Spencerport High School in 1938, as Class Secretary and editor of several publications, winner of various speaking contests and awards, a cheerleader and member of the Operetta and Glee Clubs. On October 9, 1943, she married her handsome and charming husband, Stephen (Tippy) Sorochtey (whose parents Nicolas and Catherine also emigrated from Ukraine) at the original St. Josaphat’s Church on Hudson Avenue. Because they worried someone might be left out, they announced that all parish members were invited to attend their wedding ….. and they all came! That established their lifelong pattern of serving as welcoming hosts on many annual and special occasions. Stella took advanced classes to become adept at accounting, and maintained accounts and prepared income tax for a number of local businesses including Atlantic Richfield, White Oak Dairy, Skalney Basket Company, and the Gates Town Hall. She also served as a leader for numerous community organizations, including Girl Scouts and political action committees. But the center of life for Stella and Tippy throughout the decades was their support of St. Josaphat’s Ukrainian Catholic Church organizations and community. They were active members of the church choirs, the Ukrainian American Club, St. Anne’s and Holy Name Societies, the Centennial Celebration Committee and Senior’s Club. They served as bingo captains for many years, and Stella headed the finance department for the annual church festival. They especially enjoyed spending time at their cottage on East Port Bay in Wolcott, boating, fishing and sharing the company of family and friends. Upon retirement they pursued their dream of travelling throughout the country by RV, visiting family and old friends, and making new ones wherever they went. They visited their daughter Jan in the mountains of northern California, and their daughter Carol and husband Gary Alcott in Paxson, Alaska, passing on the traditions of Ukrainian faith, customs and cooking to their granddaughter, Sasha. Stella’s loving family - both immediate and extended - will miss her deeply, but is grateful to have been the cornerstone of her kind and generous life. She will live in all of our memories, and hear and appreciate each and everyone’s prayers. God Bless and remember your special servant, Stella. The family wishes to thank all of Stella's caregivers who supported and loved her. Her family will receive friends Monday 4-7pm at the funeral home (570 Kings Hwy South). Panachyda 6:30pm. Friends are invited to meet the family Tuesday 9:30am at St. Josaphats Ukrainian Catholic Church for her Divine Liturgy. Interment Holy Sepulchre Cemetery. Please make donations to St. Josaphats Ukrainian Catholic Church, 940 East Ridge Road. Rochester, NY 14617. To share a memory or send the family a condolence, please visit www.harrisfuneralhome.com