Obituary of Virginia Kovalik

Virginia (Jean) Conklin Kovalik passed peacefully in her sleep after a brief illness. Although her goal was to live to be 100, she nearly made it, at the age of 95. Jean was born in Manhattan, NY, but grew up in Peekskill, NY. She was a graduate of Assumption (Catholic) school, and Peekskill HS, then attended Cochran School of Nursing in Yonkers, NY, graduating as a Registered Nurse. She married her former husband, Kenneth Kovalik in Yonkers, lived there for several years, then moved to Poughkeepsie, NY, where she raised her six children, and worked at Vassar Brothers Hospital and Central Dutchess Nursing Home as a registered nurse. After retiring from her 40+ year career in nursing, Jean moved to Tucson, AZ, where she lived a full, active retired life! Jean is survived by her children, Carol (Michael), Maureen Drexler (John), Donna Karpinski (Steve), David (Michele), John, and Lawrence (Laura), seven grandchildren, Jonathan (Emily), Justin (Cathryn), Alex (Abby), Zach, Tyler, Jennifer (Cody), and Joshua, and three great grandchildren, Keagan, Chet, and Madelyn; Great grandchildren, Sawn (Lauren), Angilica (Nehemiah), Jasmine (Joshua) Cheyenne (Caleb), Lena and Oliver. Great-Great grandchildren Silas, Sicilya, Miles, and Desmond. Her very good friend Tom Holodak and many nieces and nephews in the Korwatch and Holodak families also survive her. She is pre-deceased by her parents, Harold and Mary (Welch) Conklin, her sister, Evelyn Conklin, and Dan Railey, who was a loving partner to Jean. Per Jean’s request, her visitation will be held at Bring’s Funeral Home, 6910 E. Broadway, Tucson, AZ on Tuesday May 23, 2023, with family receiving friends from 3-6 PM. There will be a recitation of the Rosary at 6 PM. A Mass of Christian burial will be held at St. Francis de Sales, 1375 S. Camino Seco, Tucson, AZ, on Wednesday May 24, 2023, at 10 AM, with Committal following at Our Lady of the Desert cemetery. Jean’s family would like to extend their sincere gratitude to the staff at the Arizona Homestead in Tucson for the loving care they provided her while she lived there. Staff and residents at this home quickly became family to Jean, which gave her family great comfort. Many times in the past couple of years, Jean was known to say she “had a great life”. The family would like to acknowledge all of Jean’s friends and family, both in AZ, and NY, who were a part of Jean feeling this way. They would also like to recognize the Craft Group at St. Francis de Sales, Jean enjoyed many happy hours with this group.In lieu of flowers, please make donations in Jean’s name to St. Jude’s Children’s Hospital, or a charity of your choice. “Merciful Lord”