Obituary of Patricia Bokulich

Patricia Ann Bokulich (67) passed from this life on March 25th, surrounded by her family's hymns, prayers, laughter, and tears. Born in Detroit, Michigan, she was preceded in death by to her mother and stepfather, Helen and Jerome Michalak, and her father, Ted Grzych. Pat studied art at Wayne State U., where she met Paul Bokulich at the Catholic Newman Center. Married on October 9th, 1965, they joined the Southern Christian Leadership Conference, working for voting rights in the South under Dr. Martin Luther King Jr and with Dr. Rev. Thomas Gilmore, who became the first African-American sheriff in Greene County, Alabama. Paul was the appellant in a case that, in a Supreme Court ruling, helped to assure that African-Americans be provided equal representation on juries. Living in Soquel since 1972, Pat was the Director of Religious Education at St. Joseph's Church in Capitola, and sang in a Latin Chant Choir at Oblates of St. Joseph. Pat's life was devoted to her Catholic faith and her love of family, and full of sacrifices for justice and charity. She and Paul were both students of philosophy, a passion they passed on to their children through dinner conversations that went on long after the meal was finished. She taught Polish traditions to her family through recipes and polka dancing, enjoyed gardening, and spent time with her grandchildren, teaching them to knit and bake. She also led a group that knitted for charity. Pat was always willing to open her home, once even taking in a couple whose car had broken down on the side of the road, although she would fret about her house being messy, with her busy life and large family. She wanted her books and movies to have joyful endings, and was always full of optimism and hope - as reflected in some of her final words: "Fall into the arms of the risen Christ, with hope." Pat leaves many behind to prayerfully cherish her memory: her loving husband Paul, her children Rebecca (with her husband Charles Ramsay and seven children); Peter (with his wife Alisa and two children); Michael (with his wife Diane and four children); Dominic, Jacob, Elizabeth (and husband Ben Hume), Maria, Joseph, and her sister, and Jennifer Michalak-Sanzenbacher. Ceremonies will be at two locations: At the Oblates of St. Joseph in Santa Cruz (544 West Cliff Drive) friends and family are invited to visit on Tuesday, April 3rd, from 3:00 pm, then there will be tributes and a rosary at 6:30pm. A funeral mass will be at St. Joseph's Church in Capitola (435 Monterey Avenue) on Wednesday at 9:30am, followed by a reception in the hall. Memorial contributions in lieu of flowers, are preferred to the Catholic Relief Society ( www.crs.org) or to help with Patricia's medical and funeral expenses online ( www.patriciamemorial.org).