Delphine "Pat" (Janowiak) Piasecki

• December 5, 1915 - December 31, 2010
• South Bend, Indiana

Delphine (Pat) Piasecki , 95, died peacefully with family at her side on Friday at the Sanctuary at Holy Cross. She was born in South Bend, Indiana on December 5, 1915, to the late Anthony and Josephine (Kujawski) Janowiak. She grew up on Florence Avenue in South Bend with two much loved sisters, Esther Janowiak and Helen Janowiak Borchers, and three wonderful brothers, Teddy, Edward and Leo Janowiak, and attended Central High School.

On September 26, 1942, at St. Stanislaus Church, South Bend, IN, she married Roman J. Piasecki, the kind and good man that captured her heart for over sixty-one years. They would later have three children, Mark, Carmen, and Nancy, and would both become deeply involved in the life of their parish church and their community.

Pat was a long-time member of the Daughters of Isabella, Notre Dame Circle 572. Over the years she participated in and chaired many of the annual fund-raising charity balls and luncheons that supported charitable causes including Corvilla, Inc., which provides homes for people with developmental disabilities.

Pat worked briefly as a Red Cross nurses aide at Saint Joseph Hospital and was a chairperson for Mothers March of Dimes. Pat and R.J. loved to dance and were active members of the Assembler’s Dance Club, a Catholic formal dinner-dance club that had social events several times a year.

St. Stanislaus Church was a vital part of Pat’s life. She and Roman shared a strong faith and served on the parish council, were involved in the Eucharistic ministry, and spent many hours helping with parish festivals, fund-raisers and social gatherings. Pat was instrumental in the design, construction and development of the Candlelite Court at St. Stanislaus Church. The Candlelite Court provided a place for parish members to gather for weddings, funerals, parties and other parish events. Once the kitchen was completed, Pat organized the Bethany Ladies, a dedicated group of women that cooked for all special events at the church. Everything the Bethany Ladies, including Pat, prepared at the Candlelite Court was created with love and presented with elegance.

In 1994, the Northern Indiana Center for History’s Dedication Committee for “Dom Robotnika: A Worker’s Home Museum” was co-chaired by Pat and Roman. Dom Robotnika means “worker’s home” in Polish and the home was restored to reflect life as it may have been lived by a Polish working class family of the 1930's. Pat was involved in the restoration project and also planned, raised funds for and organized a dedication reception with traditional Polish cuisine for over 1,000 guests that was held in the Historic Oliver Gardens of Copshaholm.

In 2005, Holy Cross and St. Stanislaus Parish recognized her lifelong commitment and dedication to St. Stanislaus parish and to all members of the congregation. Both Pat and the late Roman Piasecki were selected to be among the inaugural members of the Holy Cross and St. Stanislaus Parish Hall of Fame. Pat was presented with the “Crux et Ancorae Award.”

Through all the years, Pat presided over countless social gatherings for friends and family. All holidays and significant life events were celebrated with family dinners and buffet suppers that included made from scratch Polish specialties that everyone came to expect. It was particularly fun to see grandchildren discover and enjoy one of “Mimi’s” many containers of kiefle at Christmas. There were also Polish coffee cakes, gingerbread men, and kolache for Christmas, paczki doughnuts before Lent, lamb cakes for Easter, Polish wedding chicken, sweet and sour cabbage, kwas, pierogi, kluski noodles and the world’s best smoked Polish sausage, not to mention the most beautiful cakes, pies and cherry tarts. Pat made many of each of these specialties so she could give them away and brighten the holidays of neighbors and friends.

Pat’s beloved “R.J.” passed away on August 20, 2003. She is survived by her three children, Mark J. (Patricia) Piasecki of South Bend, IN, Carmen M. (Thomas Singer) Piasecki of South Bend, IN and Nancy M. (Thomas) Hanlon of Fort Wayne, IN; her four grandchildren, Jon T. (Susanne) Hanlon of Seattle, WA, Patricia M. Piasecki of Chicago, IL, Elizabeth A. Hanlon of New Bern, NC and Jennifer M. Hanlon of Champaign, IL; and two great-grandchildren, Roman T. Hanlon and Alexander T. Hanlon of Seattle, WA.

Her nieces and nephews include Gerald and Helen (both deceased) Borchers’ children, David Borchers of South Bend, IN, Josette (Jeffrey) Abrams of Leesburg, IN, Jon Eric Borchers of Los Angeles, CA, and Mary (Leo) Flynn of Elmhurst, IL; Leo (deceased) and Alice Janowiak’s children, Judy (Warren) Emard of Valencia, CA, and Paul Janowiak S.J. of Seattle, WA; and Edward and Ann (both deceased) Janowiak’s children, JoAnn (Ron) Hefer of Springfield, IL, Carol (Dick) Nolder of Springfield, IL and Thomas Janowiak (deceased) of Springfield, IL.

She was preceded in death by her parents and all of her siblings.

Pat appreciated the love and attentive care she received from the staff at Sanctuary at Holy Cross and the friendship of fellow residents Gwendolyn Toth and lifelong friend Irene Golabowski.

Friends may call from 3:00 to 8:00 p.m., Friday, January 7, at the Kaniewski Funeral Home, 3545 North Bendix Drive, South Bend, Indiana 46628, where a Daughters of Isabella led Rosary will be recited at 4:00. A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at 10:00 a.m., Saturday, January 8, at St. Stanislaus Church, with Rev. Paul Janowiak, S.J., and Rev. Michael Mathews, C.S.C., officiating. Burial will follow at Cedar Grove Cemetery.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the St. Vincent DePaul Society.

02/20/2023 EJS