Dorothy (Wawruch) Polkowski

     Mrs. Dorothy (Wawruch) Polkowski, 90, a resident of Bear Creek Township, passed into Eternal Life early Wednesday morning at the home of her daughter and son-in-law in North Wilkes-Barre, with family at her bedside.  She had valiantly fought a four-year battle against cancer.  Dorothy was a member of the Holy Cross Polish National Catholic Church on Sheridan Street, Wilkes-Barre.

     Born February 6, 1930 in Wilkes-Barre, she was the youngest and last surviving of seven children to the late Severyn and Antonia (Piesek) Wawruch.  Her childhood was spent in the Bald Mountain area, where she attended school, and later, graduated from James M. Coughlin High School, Wilkes-Barre.

     She married Joseph S. Polkowski in 1952, and shared thirty-eight years of married life, until Joseph’s passing on December 22, 1990.   Together they raised five daughters.

     Dorothy was employed by the former Freider’s Cigar Factory in the Parsons section of Wilkes-Barre.  She later assisted her husband in the operations of the family business, the Deb-Lin Bakery, while raising her family.

     Later in life, Dorothy loved traveling; especially when it came to visiting her daughter Linda in California, or the many trips she and her daughters made to Las Vegas and Atlantic City over the years.  In recent years, she often went on local vacations to the Poconos with Linda and other family members.  She is remembered by those who knew her as being a wonderful, loving mother, sister, and beloved aunt to her many nieces and nephews.  Her caring ways and her sense of humor will be greatly missed by all those she touched in this life.

     In addition to her husband Joseph, Dorothy was preceded in death by sisters Chesterine King, Julia Pokrifka, Helen Kondratick, Stella Kenzakoski, Ann Libertoski and by her only brother, Edward Wawruch.  Surviving, are daughters Linda Camp and her husband Dan, of Ramona, CA; Debbie Stanski of Plains Township; Rita Ancas of Dallas; Sharon Valentukonis and her husband Joseph, of Dallas; Karen Polkowski and Michael Minarik, of North Wilkes-Barre, with whom Dorothy resided; also numerous nieces, nephews, great-nieces, great-nephews and many dear friends.

     Dorothy's family would like to gratefully acknowledge the care and attention given by Compassus Hospice Care, to both Dorothy and family members.  Special thanks are given to Karen and Mike for all the care they provided, which helped to fulfill her final wishes to remain at home.

     Funeral services will be held privately and at the convenience of her family, with no formal visitation.  A celebration of her life may be held in the future, when it is deemed safe to congregate once again.  In lieu of flowers, donations may be sent in her memory, to Compassus Hospice, 250 Pierce Street, Suite #217, Kingston, PA 18704.

     The John V. Morris Family Funeral Homes Inc. North Wilkes-Barre location is honored to care for Mrs. Polkowski and her family at this time.  

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