Obituary of Mary Dinga

Mary Bohunicky Dinga-

Mary Bohunicky Dinga passed into the welcoming hands of her God on June 11, 2021.

Mary was born on November 1, 1926, to the late John and Justina (Basnak) Sojak from Piestany, Slovakia. 

She was the loved and loving mother of William (Colleen) Bohunicky Jr., Patricia Bohunicky, Robert (Pam) Dinga, Diana (Larry) Sheppy, Richard Dinga, John (Lynn) Dinga and Chris (Doreen) Dinga. 

She is also survived by sisters Bessie Kominek, Frances (Stan) Kominek and brothers Milan Sojak and Jerry (Jean)Sojak. Predeceased by husbands, William Bohunicky and Stephen Dinga; son Mark Dinga; brothers John, Louis, Joe, Stanley; sisters Vlasta, Martha and Agnes.
 
Mary leaves behind seventeen grandchildren, twenty-nine great grand children and one great-great grandchild, all very precious to her. Several nieces and nephews also survive. 

As a child, Mary was to have remained in Slovakia to look after and help her grandparents then later to become a teacher (her father's wishes). However, she immigrated in 1939 with her family to farm in Woodlands, Manitoba. She later moved to Winnipeg when the rest of the family moved to the Kent County area of Ontario. Mary waitressed while in Winnipeg and met the love of her life, William Bohunicky, whom she married in 1945. They had two children, William Jr. and Patricia before William Sr. drowned in 1949.
 
Mary and her two children moved to the Ridgetown, Ontario area to be with her parents and siblings. Here she met the second man in her life, Stephen Dinga. They married in 1950 and she gave birth to six more children, Bob, Diana, Ric, John, Mark and Chris. 
For many years Mary was a member of the Catholic Women's League of St. Michael's Church. She was a member of several bowling leagues in town and spent many endless hours crocheting and knitting toques, mittens, gloves and socks for local school children and newborns in the Chatham hospitals. Among the joys of her social activities, Mary enjoyed a rousing game of euchre or cribbage where often slightly heated discussions took place over rules, table talk, inappropriate signals and such. She also enjoyed watching television, reading many books and visiting with residents of the Village on the Ridge. 

The poem "The Dash" was often mentioned by Mary and the fact that the dash between the years of birth and death was most meaningful because it represented the events and accomplishments of your life. Truly, Mary's dash was very well spent!

A special thank you to Dr. Leonard Prins and the staff of Village on the Ridge for their amazing care for Mary.  

A private family visitation will take place at McKinlay Funeral Home on Monday June 14.  Cremation will follow and a private family burial will take place later in the week at St. Michael's Cemetery.

In lieu of flowers, donations made in memory of Mary to the Alzheimer Society of Chatham-Kent would be appreciated or a charity of choice.

Online condolences may be left at www.mckinlayfuneralhome.com

McKinlay Funeral Home, 76 Main St. E., Ridgetown, ON, N0P 2C0, 519-674-3141