Obituary of Alice Golebiowski

Dr. Alicja (Alice, Alicia) S. Golebiowski, 90, of Rome, passed away peacefully on Wednesday, October 13, 2021, in The Grand Rehabilitation and Nursing at Rome, New York. She was born on May 29, 1931 in Kolo, Poland, a daughter of Witold and Irena (Babinska) Szczucka. The family settled in Piotrkow Trybunalski. Alice knew from early childhood that she wanted to become a doctor. She and her family experienced the hardship of the invasion of Poland during World War II. Alice completed high school, university/medical school and medical residency in Poland where she began her practice of medicine. In 1966, she and her husband Anatoliusz (Tony) Golebiowski, immigrated to the United States, initially settling in Chicago, Illinois. Alice learned English in night school while simultaneously starting a family and completing the United States medical licensing requirements. Once she passed the medical foreign language exam (FLEX), she completed further residency in General Practice at Saint Elizabeth Hospital and Grant Hospital. During her residency, she became a naturalized American citizen. She also worked at the family medicine practice of Dr. Ralph A. Scala. In 1978, after she obtained her state medical license, she and her family relocated to the Griffiss Air Force Base in Rome, New York, pursuing a career in the United States Air Force as a physician. Alice proudly served her country for about twenty years, first in the Air Force and then in the Air National Guard based at Hancock Air Force Base, Syracuse, New York. She entered her military service as a Major and received an honorable discharge with the rank of Lieutenant Colonel. Alice also worked as a physician at the Rome Developmental Center (RDC) for many years and had a successful evening hours only general medical practice in Rome. She received numerous commendations and awards throughout her medical and military career. She retired in 2009 at age 78. Besides caring for her patients, she loved her family and greatly enjoyed her home. She was very appreciative of the friendships she had with many in Rome, especially with her neighbors and past coworkers. She enjoyed taking long walks and gardening. She was a parishioner at Holy Trinity Roman Catholic Church in Utica, New York. While a private person by nature and diminutive in stature, underneath Alice had a will of steel. She was tough, independent, stubborn, and driven. She cherished being an American and fulfilling her American dream. Alice is survived by daughter Louise (John) Pavlock of Smethport, Pennsylvania and son Victor Golebiowski of Erie, Pennsylvania as well as two grandsons, Jared Pavlock of State College, Pennsylvania and Jordan Pavlock of Notre Dame, Indiana. Several nieces, nephews, and relatives remain living in Poland. Besides her husband of forty-five years, Anatoliusz (Tony) Golebiowski, who passed away on April 3, 2011, she was predeceased by her parents, one younger sister, Maria Barbara Wielgosinska of Piotrkow Trybunalski, Poland, as well as various other relatives in Poland. Private services will be held at the convenience of the family. There are no calling hours. Interment will be in the Saint Bonaventure Cemetery in Allegany, New York. Memorials may be made to the charity of one’s choice. Funeral arrangements have been entrusted to Nunn and Harper Funeral Home, Inc., 418 North George Street, Rome, New York.