Obituary of Helen K Kwasniewski

Name: Helen K. Kwasniewski Date of Death: Thursday, June 25, 2009 Residence: Rome, New York Age: 75 Obituary: Helen Koziarz Kwasniewski, of Rome, NY, passed away on Thursday, June 25, 2009, surrounded by her loving daughters and grandchildren. She was born on the family farm on the Gorge Road in Boonville, NY, on July 5, 1933, daughter of Antoni and Maria Bustza Koziarz. Helen was salutatorian of her high school graduating class at Holland Patent, NY. She went onto Syracuse University, spending time on both the Syracuse and Utica College campuses. Helen earned her bachelors degree in mathematics and went on to be among the first people in the country trained in computer science by General Electric. After working for GE in Schenectady, NY, Helen went to work in Rome at Griffiss Air Force Base for the federal government. Helen was a woman ahead of her time in many ways—college educated, career minded, an advocate of medication-free childbirth and nursing her babies. She chose to end her flourishing career at Griffiss to devote herself to her family. Helen then became a dedicated homemaker. From her large welcoming kitchen, may were blessed with homemade bread, pierogi, golumpki, pies, and cakes as her love made evident. Helen lovingly bestowed baked goods as thanks or encouragement. Many people delighted in finding a bag of bread placed discreetly in their car or on their counter. Helen was especially known for her chocolate chip cookies and cinnamon bread. Also, Helen was skilled in food preservation, and she provided the family with an endless supply of canned green tomato relish since ripe tomatoes were a Tug Hill rarity. On September 3, 1955, she married the love of her life, Henry "Hank" Kwasniewski in All Saints Church in Rome, NY. Together, they had five children and built several businesses in the logging, lumber, trucking, and heavy equipment fields. She loved to work in her flower garden, even though the unforgiving land of Tug Hill meant a very short growing season. Helen was devoted to her church. For many years, Helen provided all the homemade baked goods for the church's weekly social hour after Mass. Anytime there was a bake sale or dinner in the community, Helen would gladly make 3 or 4 desserts. She also supplied cookies for daily milk time at school, asking teachers which families were not able to provide at snack time and being sure homemade cookies appeared that day. Helen served as Vice Chair of All Saints Church Committee, Vice President of the Ladies Adoration Society, and was a member of the Order of the Eastern Star, Salma-Mappa Chapter #193. She is survived by four daughters, two sons-in-law, and four grandchildren: Marie Kwasniewski, of Cherry Hill, NJ; Patty Kwasniewski, of Onondaga, NY; Suzanne Kwasniewski and James Post, of Saratoga Springs, NY; Amelia "Amy" and Mark Dombal, of Slate Hill, NY; Luke Peter Dombal, Gage Henry Dombal, and Victoria Helen Dombal, of Slate Hill, NY, and Sofia Rose Post, of Saratoga Springs, NY. There are numerous Kwasniewski and Koziarz family members as well as her church family that are saddened by her loss. Helen joins in Heaven her beloved husband, Hank, and her greatly-missed son, Peter, as well as her close friends, Sophie, Mary, and Kay. We rejoice in those reunions as much as we miss her loving presence on this Earth. Services: Funeral services will be held on Monday, June 29, 2009, at 1:15 PM at the Nunn and Harper Funeral Home, Inc., 418 N. George St., Rome, followed by a Mass at All Saints Church, at 2:00 PM where the Rev. Marion Pocziecha will officiate. Interment will take place in All Saints Cemetery. Family and friends are invited and may call on Sunday from 4:00 to 7:00 PM at the funeral home. Contributions may be made in Helen's memory to All Saints Church Memorial Fund, 801 Hickory St., Rome, NY 13440. You may view the obituary and send a message of sympathy at www.nunnandharper.com.