Cecilia Ann (Kopczyk) Gach, 80, formerly of Evansville, died peacefully at her home in Princeton, Ind., on Friday afternoon, Oct. 7, 2005. 

The youngest daughter of eight children, she was born to Polish immigrants Francis and Mary Ann Kopczyk on April 6, 1925, in Clymer, Pa. She was nicknamed "Honey" by her father. 

She moved to Cleveland, Ohio, at the age of 18 during World War II, and worked for two years before being called home to help with her parents' dairy farm. She met and corresponded with Major Peter Gach while he was overseas, and they were married on August 18, 1945, in Clymer, Pa.

She had lived in Princeton for the past five years. She was an active member of St. Joseph Catholic Church in Princeton, and was a former active member of St. Theresa in Evansville, St. James in Haubstadt, and St. John Catholic Church in Daylight, Ind., giving her time and talents to the PTA, Altar Society and St. Vincent DePaul Society. She was honored to be a member of the Darmstadt Homemakers Extension Club for more than 40 years and the Polish American Society. Cecilia was fluent in the Polish language. She kept in contact with relatives in Poland, returning several times to visit in her lifetime. 

Survivors include her sons, Eugene (Beverly) Gach of Atlanta, Ga., Peter F. Gach of Carlsbad, Calif., and Joseph S. (Carol) Gach of Princeton, Ind.; daughter, Margaret Peggy (Jim) Smith of Princeton, Ind.; eight grandchildren, Peter Gach Jr., Aaron and Philip Gach, Andrew, Elena and Jonathan Smith, Jody Shoemaker and Gina Maddox; step-grandchildren and spouses, Jill (Paul) Benvenutti, Steven (Molly) Adams, Katy (Clay) Mabbit and Betsy (Mike) Trotzke; two great-grandsons, Ryan Shoemaker and Henry Maddox; three step-great-grandchildren, Lia and Ava Benvenutti and Jacob Adams; sister, Frances Gezymalla of Christiansburg, Va.; brother, Louis Kopczyk of Clymer, Pa.; and several nieces, nephews and cousins. 

She was preceded in death by her husband, Peter P. Gach, October 16, 2004; her parents, Frank and Mary Ann (Bogacki) Kopczyk; five brothers and one sister; and a granddaughter, Emily C. Smith, in 1989. 

Funeral services will be Tuesday at 11 a.m. at St. Joseph Catholic Church in Princeton, with Father Bernie Etienne officiating. Burial will be in the church cemetery.

Friends may call at Colvin Funeral Home in Princeton from 4 until 8 p.m. Monday. A Christian wake service will be held at 6 p.m. Monday at the funeral home.