Submitted by: John C. Monk

Emilia Kolesnik

April 5, 1930 - Nov. 22, 2009
SOUTH BEND - On November 22, 2009 Emilia, 79, surrendered to our Lord after an extended illness. She was preceded in death by her beloved husband, Henryk, and by her parents Sylvester and Josefa Naumowicz. She was born in ZabLocie, Poland on April 5, 1930. She came to America in 1949 and married Henryk on November 18, 1950 in South Bend. She worked hard all her life and retired from Notre Dame in 1995. She volunteered as a lunch room monitor at Holy Family School so she could be close to her only grandchildren. She was a Devout Catholic and was a Eucharistic Minister at St. Adalbert Catholic Church for 9 years. She loved to garden and crochet, and was very devoted to her family. She is survived by her daughters, Teresa and Lucia Kolesnik; and Janet Hodowaniec; two grandchildren, Gina and Michael Hodowaniec of South Bend; her sister Leokadia Lesniewski; nieces and nephews, Barbara (Charles) Andrews, Edward Lesniewski, Robert Kolesnik and Ursula (Brian) Lichter. She was a warm and loving mother and grandmother, and in the last years of her life taught us all about strength, grace, and dignity. She will be greatly missed. Visitation will be from 2:00 pm to 8:00 pm on Friday, November 27, 2009 in ST. JOSEPH FUNERAL HOME, 824 S. Mayflower, South Bend, where a Rosary will be prayed at 4:00 pm. A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at 9:00 am on Saturday, November 28, 2009, in St. Adalbert Catholic Church, South Bend. Burial will follow in St. Joseph Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the Center for Hospice and Palliative Care, 111 Sunnybrook Ct., South Bend, IN 46637. For those who are unable to attend the Funeral Mass, condolences for the family may be made at www.sjfh.net

Published in South Bend Tribune on November 26, 2009