Dorothy H. Kowaleski

Dorothy H. (Hamann) Kowaleski, of Southwick, formerly of East Longmeadow passed away early Wednesday morning, March 23, 2022 on her 100 birthday. She was born on March 23, 1922 in Astoria, Queens, the daughter of Helene (Zube) Hamann and Karl Hamann.  Several years later, the family moved to Weehawken, New Jersey, where she attended school and was in the last graduating class of Woodrow Wilson High School.  She graduated from Katharine Gibbs School in Manhattan and enjoyed a career as an executive secretary in New York.  She was secretary to Jerome A. Straka, the president of Cheseborough Ponds prior to her marriage to Casmer F. Kowaleski in 1958 and moving to Chicopee, Massachusetts.  They moved to East Longmeadow six years later. In 1959, Dorothy joined Titeflex Corporation in Springfield as secretary to the President.  She remained in that position until her retirement in 1990.  She was a member of St. Paul Lutheran Church in East Longmeadow, serving on the church council as secretary, vice president and president, teaching Sunday school and confirmation classes and as a member of the Altar Guild. She was very fond of her Siamese cats, loved to read and play bridge and was a long-time member of the Westfield Bridge Club.  She moved to the American Inn (now Southwick Village) in Southwick in 2006 and was very comfortable in that community and grateful for the many friends and caring staff. Predeceased by her husband in 1988, she leaves her goddaughter, Valerie Nicolosi and her husband Leonard of West Milford, New Jersey, Cousin Dr. Keith Brunckhorst and his wife Kathy of Teaneck, NJ, and several other cousins. Her funeral will be held on Monday, March 28th at 11:00 AM at St. Paul’s Lutheran Church, 181 Elm Street, East Longmeadow, with burial to follow at Hillcrest Park Cemetery, 895 Parker Street in Springfield. Family and friends may call on Monday morning at the church prior to the service from 10 – 11:00 AM. Contributions in Dorothy’s name may be directed to St. Paul’s Lutheran Church.