Virginia D. Osiecki

Virginia D. Osiecki (nee Gawarecki), age 101, of Mountainside, NJ, passed away peacefully
December 24, 2019 at Tidewell Hospice Care in Port Charlotte, Florida. Since 2013, Virginia had
been residing in assisted care in Punta Gorda, FL.
Virginia "Ginny" was born in Newark, NJ on July 31, 1918 to Stefan and Bertha Gawarecki who
predeceased her. She spent her early years growing up during the Great Depression in the
Ironbound section of Newark, where she attended St. Casimir's Church. A graduate of Eastside
High School in 1936, Ginny was class valedictorian, winning medals in both Math and in English.
Among many of her fond memories was playing tennis in Independence Park, just a block from
her childhood home. After high school and two secretarial positions, she went on to
employment with The Prudential Company for many years and rose to executive secretary in
the Law Department.
A beloved wife, mother, grandmother and great-grandmother, Virginia was a passionate
supporter of Our Lady of Lourdes Parish in Mountainside where she was a charter parishioner.
She served as president of the first Parish Council and was the second president of the
Rosary Altar Society. In addition, during her many years as a parishioner, she served as a Lector
and a Eucharistic Minister. For years, every week she brought Holy Communion to homebound
parishioners and to patients at Brighton Gardens and Manor Care. She taught kindergarten
religious education classes for twenty-five years. She was a member of the Cursillo Movement,
participated in Women's Corner Stone Retreats and was a charter adorer at Our Lady of
Lourdes' Perpetual Adoration Chapel. She loved Our Lady of Lourdes Parish and all the friends
she made during her active years there. She always kept them in her prayers.
Virginia truly lived life to the fullest through simple pleasures; reading, doing crossword puzzles,
trips to the Jersey shore, and playing tennis in the driveway with her grandchildren. Most of all,
she loved to be with her family for celebrations. She was proud of her Polish heritage. Each
year she especially looked forward to her family's annual gathering for their traditional Polish
Christmas Eve dinner (Wigilia). She was a Girl Scout Leader and a member of the Mountainside
Active Retirees.
Virginia was predeceased by her loving husband Casimir of 54 years, her sister Josephine Wiech
and brother Theodore Gawarecki. She is survived by: daughter Lauren Dickert and husband Edward;
daughter Mary Herd; beloved grandchildren Matthew and wife Libby, Sarah, Michael and Anthony;
great-grandchildren Emily and Colton; brother Stephen Gawarecki and wife Carolyn and many
nieces, nephews and cousins, all of whom held a special place in her heart.
Her funeral mass will be celebrated at 10:00 a.m. Saturday, January 25 at Our Lady of Lourdes
Church, 200 Central Avenue, Mountainside, NJ. Interment will follow at Fairview Cemetery,
Westfield, NJ. Repast will be at Our Lady of Lourdes Pollard Hall immediately following burial.
Please go to www.grayfuneralhomes.com to offer condolences.
In lieu of flowers, donations in Virginia's name can be made to Tidewell Hospice Care, 1158
Veronica Street, Port Charlotte, FL 33952, or Our Lady of Lourdes Church in Mountainside, NJ.