Dr. Walter Ilarian Kocha passed away peacefully at Victoria Hospital, at the age of 75. He was surrounded by his beloved wife of 41 years, Mary Packowski, and his three devoted daughters, Christa, Tika, and Ilyana, who will always keenly feel his loss. He will also be greatly missed by his three sons-in-law Craig Aarts, Curtis Wright, and Yan Yeung, and his two granddaughters Ariel and Alice Aarts. He was predeceased by his parents, Epifany and Elizabeth Kocha (nee Lukij), and his brother Gerald Kocha.
Walter was an oncologist at the London Regional Cancer Centre for 34 years. Education and research were two of his great passions during his career, leading him to become both a foremost expert on treating neuroendocrine cancer, and a respected associate professor of medicine and oncology at Western University. Outside of medicine, Walter pursued many interests including obtaining his pilot's licence and travelling the world with his wife. Walter loved any excuse to hold family gatherings, where he would cook incredible meals for those he loved most. He enjoyed nothing more than spending a weekend wine tasting in the Niagara region with his wife, three daughters and sons-in-law.
The family would like to extend their deep gratitude to the staff at the Critical Care Trauma Center at the LHSC. In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations to the Multi-Organ Transplant Program. Online donations and condolences may be made at: www.forestlawnmemorial.ca.