Mary Rose Osenkowski

October 06, 2007

TAUNTON – Mary Rose (Galica) Osenkowski, “Babci,” 93, died on Saturday, October 6, 2007, in Marian Manor in Taunton. She was born in Chicopee, MA. Following the death of her birth mother, Rose (Kochanek) Galica, she was lovingly raised by her second mother, Caroline (Kapinos) Galica and Antonio Galica. She was educated in the St. Stanislaw Polish school and parish in Chicopee.

During the Great Depression she went to New York City where she worked as a waitress and later as a nanny. While there, she met her late husband, Albert J. Osenkowski, who was from Taunton. In the mid 1930s they returned to Taunton and settled here. She worked briefly at the Whittenton Mills and later at the Poole Silver Co. However, she spent most of her life caring for her husband, their three daughters, tending her large flower and vegetable gardens and fostering her Polish roots and traditions. She lovingly crocheted tablecloths, Christmas stockings and afghans for her children, her ten grandchildren and twenty-one great grandchildren.

Always to be remembered will be the large family Sunday dinners, the Easter Sunday and Christmas Eve Wigilia celebrations, featuring homemade bread, Polish food and delicacies. She was devoted to the Blessed Virgin Mary and daily prayed the Rosary. She was a communicant of Our Lady of the Holy Rosary Parish in Taunton, where she belonged to the Holy rosary Sodality. She was a member of the Polish American Citizens Club, Polish National Alliance # 1054 and a former member of the Oakland Seniors.

She was the mother of Maryann R. Dziekiewicz and her husband Robert of Taunton, and was the mother of Arlyne Zalomski, late of Central Falls, RI, and Joan Pottier, late of Raynham; the mother-in-law of Frank Zalmoski of Central Falls, RI, and the mother-in-law of the late Dr. David Pottier of Raynham. She is also survived by her brothers and sisters, Eugene Galica of Chicopee, Zeigfred “Zeke” Galica and his wife Louise of West Springfield, Anthony Galica and his wife Theodora of Chicopee, Irene Stadnicki of Chicopee, Jane Swiderski of Three Rivers, and the late Walter Galica, Adele Iwasinski and Michael Galica; she was the sister-in-law of Helen Galica of Westboro and the aunt of many.

Funeral Information

Her funeral will be held from the CRAPO-HATHAWAY FUNERAL HOME, 350 Somerset Ave. (Route 138 South), Taunton, on Friday, October 12, 2007, at 10:00AM, followed by a Mass of Christian Burial in Holy Rosary Church, 80 Bay St., Taunton at 11:00AM. Relatives and friends are invited to attend. Visiting hours will be held in the funeral home on Thursday from 4:00-8:00PM. To LIGHT A CANDLE, SIGN THE MEMORIAL REGISTER, consult THE GRIEF LIBRARY, or obtain FACILITY DIRECTIONS, go to www.hathawayfunerals.com. or please telephone 508/822-3318.

Donations Information

In lieu of flowers, contributions in her memory may be made to Marion Manor, 33 Summer Street, Taunton, MA 02780; or to Holy Rosary Church Memorial Fund, c/o Holy Rosary Church, 80 Bay St., Taunton, MA 02780.