WOOSTER Dolores A. Niemczyk of Wooster, age 86, passed into the arms of Jesus at Wooster Community Hospital the morning of Friday, July 6, 2018. During her last moments she was being held and comforted by a family member. She was proud to have been married for 67 years to Dr. Harry D. Niemczyk who was truly devoted to her in every way.
Dolores was born July 23, 1931 in Jackson, Michigan to Charles and Gertrude Abbie (Lavendusky) Pawlak. She attended Saint Mary of the Sea Catholic School in Jackson, Michigan and Jackson Junior College until she married Harry D. Niemczyk on May 3, 1952 in Jackson, Michigan.
They lived for eight years in East Lansing, Michigan and then three years in Chatham, Ontario, Canada. In 1964, she and her family moved to the city of Wooster in Wayne County, Ohio. They were both very active members of Saint Mary of the Immaculate Conception Church in Wooster but had also attended St. Agnes Catholic Church in Orrville.
Dolores was a prize-winning artist who worked with a wide variety of mediums, frequently winning Blue Ribbons at the Wayne County Fair s Art Show. Her daughter, Sharon, has followed in her footsteps to become a professional artist. In the 1960 s Dolores was a Girl Scout Leader, teaching girls how to make a variety of crafts and taking them hiking and camping.
The lives of her children were greatly enriched by her support of their many interests including: sewing, music, art, theatre, roller-skating, ice-skating, and horseback riding/showing. She was never afraid of pitching in and getting her hands dirty.
Her ability to befriend strangers anywhere in the world was amazing, and she maintained those friendships often inviting them into her home. She always made a point each year to personally hand write 260+ Christmas cards, sending them to friends in Poland and around the world. Cooking, canning and baking were some of her greatest passions. Dolores was known to many as the best cook ever, especially for her pies. She was a Bridge Champ and enjoyed playing euchre, solitaire, cribbage and crossword puzzles.
Her Polish heritage was very important and she always wore the Polish Emblem. She enjoyed fishing the rivers with Harry, bird watching, wild flower identification and camping. She was most proud of her 30 lb. Chinook Salmon. They even spent their honeymoon camping and fishing.
Dolores and Harry loved to sing together, teaching their grandchildren and others everything from camp songs to religious worship songs. They frequently enjoyed singing, even while she was in the hospital. Friends and family were delighted to have received voicemail-message gifts of Happy Birthday, sung in harmony. They also extended their blessings with hymns such as I Love You Lord and other uplifting songs.
She took her relationship with Jesus seriously. Father Steve said that when he brought Holy Communion to her in the hospital, she immediately made everyone be quiet so she could focus her full attention on the Holy Sacrament, as if to say, Jesus is here, so everybody else can get in line, because I m not letting Jesus wait for even a moment. He said Dolores understood very well how to carry over the aspect of the mass as a celebration of fellowship by personally hosting several Rosary Luncheons, where her attention to detail included creating a beautiful, welcoming environment that brought a wide variety of people together in solemn prayer to honor Mary and Jesus, as well as providing a delicious meal. This reflected her devotion to The Blessed Mother who was a source of inspiration in her life.
God looked around his garden, and found an empty place. He then looked down upon the earth, and saw your tired face. He put His arms around you and lifted you to rest. God s garden must be beautiful, He always takes the best. He knew that you were suffering, He knew that you were in pain. He knew that you would never get well on earth again. He saw the road was getting rough and the hills were hard to climb. So He closed your weary eyelids and whispered Peace be thine. It broke our hearts to lose you, but you did not go alone ¦ for part of us went with you the day God called you home. – Author unknown.
Dolores was preceded in death by her parents and sister, Joan E. Karp of Grand Rapids, Michigan.
She is survived by her husband, Dr. Harry D. Niemczyk, age 88, of Wooster; her son Mark D. Niemczyk, age 65, of Apple Creek; her daughters Sharon A. Niemczyk, age 63, of Portland, Oregon, Kathrine Kathy Kruse, age 57, of Wooster, and Lisa Nussbaum (wife of Kip Nussbaum), age 49, of Orrville, Ohio; and her brother Ronald Pawlak (husband of Janet Pawlak), of Six Lakes, Michigan; grandchildren Laura, Krysta and Anna Niemczyk, Kenneth and Peter Kruse, Sierra, Kylie and Seth Nussbaum.
Calling hours will be held Sunday, July 15, 2018 from 2-5:00 p.m. preceded by The Rosary at 1:30 p.m. at the McIntire, Bradham & Sleek Funeral Home, 216 E. Larwill St., Wooster and 1 hour prior to the mass at the church on Monday.
A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated on Monday, July 16, 2018 at 11:00 a.m. at St. Mary Catholic Church, 527 Beall Ave., Wooster with Rev. Stephen Moran as the celebrant. A private burial will be held at a later date.
Those who wish may make memorial contributions to the Education Fund at St. Mary Catholic Church, PO Box 109, Wooster, OH 44691.
Online condolences may be left for the family at www.mcintirebradhamsleek.com.
Memorial Contributions
Education Fund at St. Mary Catholic Church, PO Box 109, Wooster, OH 44691
Service
Mass on Monday, July 16, 2018 at 11:00 a.m. at St. Mary Catholic Church
Visitation
Sunday, July 15, 2018 from 2-5:00 p.m. and 1 hour prior to the service at the church on Monday. Rosary service at 1:30 p.m. at the funeral home
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