Valeria F. “Valerie” Pawlak

She was born Jan. 25, 1936 in Buffalo, the daughter of the late Raymond and Frances (Bialaszewski) Wawro, and was named Valeria after her paternal grandmother.

A lifelong Dunkirk resident, Valerie was a member of Blessed Mary Angela Church of St. Hyacinth.

Prior to her retirement in 1996, she had been employed at Fredonia State University in the housekeeping department, but also was considered a housemother by the college students in her assigned dormitories. She was commended by the university’s Public Safety Department for her quick thinking, alertness and calm demeanor in reporting a shower stalker and thus pro-actively deterring any crime from occurring.

In her earlier years, Valerie had worked at the Van Raalte silk mill and then on the production line at Kraft Foods until the plant’s closing in 1986. Throughout the years, she also had a love for working in the local vineyards, where she tied and picked the grapes. She once said, “I hope that when I die, there will be vineyards in heaven.”

Valerie was best-known throughout Western New York as the Number One Buffalo Bills Fan. During her working years at Fredonia State, she would stop by at every Bills’ practice at the end of her shift to encourage the players at their summer training camp held on campus. She also was a very active member and supporter of both the Buffalo Bills Booster Club, Southern Tier Buffalo Bills Booster Club and the Chautauqua County Sports Hall of Fame.

She was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in Canton, OH, Class of 2000. Roger Staubach presented her with this prestigious award. She also was honored at Ralph Wilson Stadium. After walking through the tunnel onto the field at a Bills’ game, she was awarded a plaque and numerous gifts from the former Bills’ owner, the late Ralph Wilson, and his wife, Mary.

A diehard community activist, Valerie could always be found front and center supporting the worthy causes in which she truly believed. And her persistence more often than not paid off with big-time results.

Her greatest lifetime achievement was securing the grant money which extended existing town and city of Dunkirk water lines to the newly created Town of Sheridan Middle Road Water District. This enabled about 30 homes on Middle, Werle and Farmingdale roads to transition from contaminated water not suitable for drinking, bathing or cooking.

Other community causes that were close to her heart included bringing back the Amtrak train stop to Dunkirk, ensuring that Brooks Memorial Hospital remained in the city of Dunkirk, and relentlessly promoting the cause for the canonization of the Venerable Rev. Nelson Baker and Blessed Mary Angela Truszkowska. Valerie died on the Feast Day of Blessed Mary Angela which is celebrated every year on Oct. 10.

A proud promoter of her Polish heritage, Valerie fulfilled her lifelong dream of visiting Poland. While on a pilgrimage to her homeland, she arranged a private audience for her group with Cardinal Stanislaw Dziwisz of Krakow. She received a relic of St. John Paul II, which is placed beneath his painting at St. Hyacinth’s Church. She was known for making her Polish sweet bread at Christmas and Easter, using a recipe that was handed down by the Pawlak family, and distributing multiple loaves to her family and friends. Her favorite words were “Ja cie kocham” (“I love you” in Polish).

Valerie also traveled to the Holy Land, bringing back and distributing more than 2000 olive wood rosaries near and far. She loved to have walked where Jesus walked. Her faith meant everything to her. She had a lifelong passion for God, family and country, especially the March for Life in Washington, D.C., which she attended annually for several years. Along with being a member of the Dunkirk Historical Lighthouse and Veterans Park Museum, she was a passionate supporter of the American Flag and our U.S. veterans. She looked after the needs of her family and friends, always putting others before herself.

An active member of the Dunkirk Revitalization Committee/Fredonia Technology Incubator and the Great Lakes Council, she also belonged to the Dunkirk Senior Citizens, Dom Polski Club and the Kosciuszko Polish Home.

Survivors include four children, Rebecca A. Dix and Suzanne M. (Daniel) Sek, both of Silver Creek; Richard Pawlak Jr. of Fredonia and Julie A. Pawlak of Dunkirk; her grandchildren, Nicole Pawlak (Tyler), Shelby Sek, Alyssa (Andrew) McKillip and Brandon Pawlak (Justin), Rob Sek, Dan Sek Jr., Justin (Amanda) Dix and JoLena (Ben) Downing; and many great-grandchildren, nieces, nephews, cousins and sisters-in-law.

Besides her parents, she was preceded in death by her husband, Richard F. Pawlak Sr., whom she married July 27, 1957 and who died Sept. 16, 1979; two brothers, Richard Wawro and Paul Wawro Sr.; one sister, Dolores Wawro; her son-in-law, James Dix; her daughter-in-law, Patricia Pawlak; and her grandson, Bill Sek.

Calling hours will be held Friday, Oct. 13, from 4 to 7 p.m. at the McGraw-Kowal Funeral Home. A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated Saturday, Oct. 14, at 10 a.m. at Blessed Mary Angela Parish Church of St. Hyacinth. Burial will be in St. Hyacinth Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the Dunkirk Free Library,

536 Central Ave., Dunkirk, NY 14048.