Gladys Kachkowski, Staff Member

Longstanding OISE staff member Gladys Kachkowski (nee Didur), aged 79, died in her home on June 11, 2023. She worked 40 years at the Ontario Institute for Studies in Education of the University of Toronto as an Executive Administrative Officer, putting so much extra work and effort into her job that they had to hire two people to replace her when she retired in 2002.

Gladys was a strong, bold, outspoken, extremely organized woman with a generous heart of gold. She was always available to help anyone anytime. Her sense of humour and spectacular smile made her shine in a crowd. She was fiercely protective of her family and treasured every moment with them. Her family was her pride and joy. She is remembered fondly by many who called her their second mom. Her interests and talents were many. Her cozy, colourful crocheted afghans have homes to many friends and family members, who can snuggle up when they need a hug from her. Her legacy will forever be in this world in her photography, a hobby and interest, but more her desire to capture all the memories in our lives to hold onto and cherish. Playing games like euchre, bowling, curling, Farkle, cribbage and her favourite, Scrabble, gave us all fun and friendly competitive moments together. Gladys volunteered at the Ukrainian Church to help make pyrohy for the church lunches, meeting many wonderful people. Lastly, if anyone really knew Gladys, they knew she was an avid camper. Gladys and her husband Eddy started camping in tents, adding their daughters as babies, warming bottles under their arms at night and bathing them in Styrofoam coolers. Over the years, they graduated to a pop-up trailer and then onto bigger trailers. Watching campfires, playing games, instilling a deep appreciation of the outdoors to their family, reading, painting ceramics, making new friends, enjoying old friends, taking adventures around Canada and the US in their trailer, camping was Gladys and Eddy’s truly happy place.

Please join us in remembering our dear colleague, Gladys. We invite you to read her obituary and watch a video in her honour.