Obituary of Wanda Kaczmarek

Wanda Kaczmarek, WWII riveter, Polish teacher Wanda Kaczmarek, a real world “Rosie the Riveter” and later a teacher of Polish language and literature in Saturday Schools and at Depew Adult Continuing Education classes, died Wednesday in her Depew home. She was 93. Born in Buffalo, she attended St. Luke’s Elementary School until 8th grade and then Villa Maria High School. In her senior year at Villa, her father decided that “girls don’t need an education” and wouldn’t pay her tuition. Determined to get her High School diploma, she switched to East High School (public school) and graduated from there. During World War II, Mrs. Kaczmarek worked at a defense plant as a riveter and a welder, because those were the highest-paying jobs and also worked as a sewer for M. Wyle Company. When her children were in college, she decided to further her own education and at age 59 graduated from Empire State College with a B.A. degree in Polish Cultural Studies. Mrs. Kaczmarek was very proud of her Polish heritage. She spoke the language fluently and taught it for several years in Polish Saturday Schools at St. Adalberts and St. Lukes and eventually served as director of the Polish Saturday School at St. Lukes. She also taught Polish at Depew Middle School and in Depew Adult Continuing Education classes. In 1971, Mrs. Kaczmarek was invited to attend a course on the methodology of teaching Polish at the Jagiellonian University in Koszalin, Poland. The course was attended by teachers of Polish from countries of both Europe and North America. Mrs. Kaczmarek thought it was interesting to hear Polish spoken with a French or a German accent, but when they tried to guess by her accent where she was from, people thought she was from Poland. She was especially proud of being the recipient of a special most merited teachers commemorative medal, presented to her by the rector of the University, an event that was broadcast on the Polish television news. She and her husband Frank were avid travelers. They covered Canada from east to west, motored to Mexico City and toured both Poland and Russia. Beloved wife of the late Frank; devoted mother of Adrienne (Jerry) Morris and Christian “Steven Kane”; loving grandmother of Lisa (Damian) Clossin and Colleen (Jeremy) O’Reilly; dear sister of the late Alice (Richard) Gasiewicz and Adele Gumulak; also survived by many loving family and friends. Visitation at the CICHON-BORGOSZ FUNERAL HOME, INC., 4929 Broadway, Depew, Monday 3-7 PM. Relatives and friends are invited to a Mass of Christian Burial in Blessed Mother Teresa Parish at St. James Church, 496 Terrace Blvd., Depew, Tuesday at 9:30 AM, please assemble at church. Courtesy of The Buffalo News