ARTIST AND SOCIAL WORKER
Mrs. Jo Macher Tragakiss, 74, of Middlebury died after a long battle with cancer. She was the wife of Marvin "Kip" Cheney and widow of Michael J. Tragakiss.
She was born in Hartford, Ct on May 11, 1934 daughter of the late Benjamin and Anna (Sczochilas) Machaj. She was a graduate of Bulkeley High School and was class book editor, 1952. She and her late husband lived in southern California for 16 years, where her 3 children were born. She was a commercial artist for North American Aviation, Rocketdyne division and later pioneered her own business called Jo-Tech. She continued doing technical art for numerous clients, mostly utility companies, often by mail order during the growing years of her children. She and her late husband moved extensively around the U.S. and Canada. While in Tulsa, OK, she was deeply involved in community projects; girl scouts, newcomers, a choral group and as President of Goodwill Industries was chosen volunteer of the year in 1972.
Returning to Connecticut in 1983 after 30 years, she changed careers, graduating from UCONN School of Social Work with her Master's degree at the age of 63 and later became a Licensed Therapist. She worked at St. Mary's Hospital and became passionate about her work with young women and their newborns as well as a bereavement group she co-facilitated. She worked with AIDS patients at YNHH, counseled substance abuse persons and was involved with alcoholics anonymous on a personal and professional level. She was on the Board of Directors of the YWCA and was a supporter of Waterbury Hospital, SMH, United Way, Child Guidance Clinic, Waterbury Youth Services, Mattatuck Museum and a founding member of the Women's Initiative Program through what was the Waterbury Foundation.
She reunited with her childhood sweetheart after 45 years and was married again in 2004. They were often seen walking the golf course. They traveled extensively and loved ballroom dancing and being with their children and grandchildren.
She leaves behind her husband, Kip Cheney, her daughters Michele Tragakiss (Juliard) and her husband Jeff, Tamara Tragakiss, her son Michael Tragakiss and his wife Tara, her step-daughters Loring and her husband Bob, Galen Cheney and her husband John, her sister Mary Darman and her partner John, brother Walter Macher, 4 grandchildren, Alex and Emmett Juliard, Michael, Jeffrey and Gracie Tragakiss, her sister-in-law Helen and her many nieces, nephews and friends.

Memorials: Memorial contributions can be made to the American Cancer Society, P.O. Box 1004 Meriden, Ct 06450, Lung Cancer Research Foundation, 800 3rd Ave., 4th Floor, New York, NY 10022, or Miracle House, 80 8th Ave., Suite 315, New York, NY, 10011-5126.

Location: Munson-Lovetere Woodbury

Services: A funeral service will be held on Sunday November 16th at 1: 00pm at The Woodbury Funeral Home of Munson - Lovetere, 2 School St. Burial will be private.

Visitation: There are no calling hours.