Maria Kucher Obituary

Maria Kucher attended Sisler High School in Winnipeg, MB. View the obituary, post a memory, or share a photo about Maria Kucher.

Graduation Year	Class of 1971
Date of Passing	Sep 18, 2009
About	MARIA KUCHER, B.A. (Hons.), LLB Maria left us peacefully on Friday, September 18, 2009. She had returned earlier in the week from Ottawa after attending a ceremony honouring her father as a Second World War Merchant Marine, which was very satisfying to her. She leaves her parents Michael and Mildred; brother Mark (Julie); and sister Michelle (Kevin); aunts Olga and Anne; nieces Lara (Steve and children), Jodi, Julia; nephew Alexander; and her children Katriana, Michael, Mark, Stefany, Christopher and Donald; and husband Colin. Maria was a remarkable person. She was involved with her culture and excelled as a student, winning many awards, scholarships and bursaries. As a child and young woman, she embraced her Ukrainian heritage as a student, dancer and as a member of youth groups (St. Nicholas Youth Group, Obnova). She also had the unique experience of having spent much of her young life in the Northwest Territories. These experiences characterized her life and indeed her professional career as a lawyer. Maria was never one to judge others by their circumstances and had a unique gift to be able to relate to people from all walks of life, particularly her many aboriginal clients, for whom she had a special sensitivity. Maria took pride in being one of the earliest full time female criminal law practitioners, and for the last 21 years, carried on the partnership of Kucher, Nichols with her friend Jeff Nichols. In her professional life she had many significant cases. As recently as a week ago, she was asked to defend murder cases in Ontario, having received commendation from some of this country's most noted criminal lawyers on her work. Maria's other passion was her immense talent for drama. This emerged as early as age two, dancing on the tables of the Wildcat Café in Yellowknife, through to early productions at Sisler High School (Bye Bye Birdie) and finally with her appearance in the Prairie Theatre Exchange production The Quick Change Room in 2008. In fact, she was seriously torn between pursuing drama or law, having been accepted by major schools in both acting and law after completing her undergraduate degree. Maria was intensely proud of her children and their achievements - they were pre-eminent in everything that she did. She has left much to inspire those who knew her and her presence will always be with us. With a sadness that has no bounds, we say good-bye to a loving mother, daughter, sister and friend. A service in celebration of her life will be held on Thursday, September 24th at 11:00 a.m. at St. Nicholas Church. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Autism Society Manitoba Inc., 825 Sherbrook Street, Winnipeg, Manitoba, R3A 1M5. As published in Winnipeg Free Press on Sep 22, 2009