Chester Andrew Kowalczyk (Chet) peacefully departed this life with his wife Patricia and daughter Moira by his side on Monday, April 24, 2017. During his final days, Chet celebrated his 60th wedding anniversary and was surrounded by his wife, children, grandchildren and his beloved dog Seamus.

Born in Bayonne, New Jersey, on October 30, 1933, Chet was the son of two Polish immigrants, Walter and Maryanna. He grew up with his sister and five brothers in a home filled with Polish traditions. He became the first and only member of his family to attend college at Seton Hall University, where he studied engineering.

In 1955, Chet met and fell in love with Patricia Lambert. They married on April 1957 and lived in Jersey City. They then moved to Middletown, NJ where they raised their four children. They always spent summers at the beach in Sea Bright.

Chet was an active member of the Mater Dei High School Booster Club in Middletown, where he organized fundraisers like the annual Polish Night and Jersey City Night and never missed volunteering at Thursday Night Bingo. Chet was a talented artist, making woodcarvings and stained glass gifts for friends and family, donating a stained glass window at St. Mary’s School in Middletown and creating dozens of elaborate photo albums that chronicled his life family and travels.

Chet enjoyed a 40 year career that spanned from Western Electric in Newark to AT&T in Holmdel to working as a consultant for Volt. After his retirement, Chet volunteered at Riverview Medical Center. He and Pat traveled far and wide – from baseball in Chicago and basketball in Chapel Hill to Montana, Mexico, Ireland, Italy, Croatia, Greece and Turkey. They eventually retired to Lambertville, New Jersey where they discovered new friends and adventures and where Chet volunteered with the Lambertville Food Bank.

Chet never had a bad word to say about anybody, and he made friends everywhere he went. He was unbelievably patient and forgiving. He had a special way of listening and paying attention, especially with his grandchildren. Chet had a great, understated sense of humor. He was always groomed perfectly, well dressed, and a great dancer.

Chet was predeceased by his sister Jane and his brothers Edward, Henry, Walter, John and Stanley. He is survived by his wife of sixty years, Patricia; his children Thomas Kowalczyk and Jane Roosa, Tamara and Harry Rosskopf, Moira Kowalczyk and Patrick Kowalczyk and Mike Bennett; and his grandchildren Matthew, Mandy, Anna, Sonya and Sean.

There will be visitation Friday, April 28, 2017 from 9 am until 10 am at the Van Horn-McDonough Funeral Home, 21 York Street, Lambertville, NJ 08530 (vhmfh.com).

The memorial mass will follow at 10:30 am at St. John the Evangelist Church, 44 Bridge Street, Lambertville, NJ 08530.

In lieu of flowers, the Kowalczyk family has requested donations be made to the Lambertville Food Pantry, where Chet was a volunteer. Donations may be made payable to the Lambertville Food Pantry, c/o Joe McGrath, Lambertville Food Pantry, PO Box 705, Lambertville, NJ 08530. Please write “Chet Kowalczyk” in the memo on the check.

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