Lottie M. Rak

Sadly, we have lost one of our oldest and dearest members, Lottie Rak. Lottie passed away on May 30, 2016. Lottie was a very active member until her age and health limited her ability to attend our meetings and functions. She served as Corresponding Secretary and was a very active and long-time member of the Polonaise Ball Committee. She was an amazing and hard working woman who was devoted to her family, and proud of her Polish heritage. Lottie M. Rak, 96, of Ewing, NJ, passed away on the early morning of May 30, 2016, surrounded by her loving family and friends at Saint Peter's University Hospital in New Brunswick, NJ. All are invited to attend the Rite of Reception and Vigil for the Deceased (Reverend Dr. Jacek W. Labinski, officiating), which will be held from 3 to 3:30 p.m. on Sunday, June 5, 2016, at Saint Hedwig R.C. Church, 872 Brunswick Ave., Trenton, NJ. Calling hours will follow in the church until 7 p.m., and will be held again on Monday, June 6, 2016, from 10 to 11 a.m. at the church. A concelebrated Mass of Christian Burial will take place at Saint Hedwig R.C. Church on Monday, June 6, 2016, at 11 a.m. with The Most Reverend Paul Gregory Bootkoski, DD, Bishop Emeritus of Metuchen, NJ, as principal celebrant. Interment will follow at Saint Hedwig Cemetery in Ewing, NJ. Lottie was born on May 21, 1920, in Trenton, the eighth of nine children of Apolonia (nee Wanowicz) and Josef Debiec. Lottie attended Holy Cross Grammar School, and then Saint Mary's Cathedral High School, where she excelled as a member of the girl's basketball team. Her father's sudden death required her to leave high school in her sophomore year to assist her family financially. She worked at Tramontana's grocery store and then Servus Bakery, both in Trenton. During World War II, in support of the war effort, Lottie worked at L.A. Young Spring and Wire Corp., and later at the Switlik Parachute Company, also in Trenton. As a young woman, she was a parishioner of Holy Cross R.C. Church. At a church picnic in the late 1940s, Lottie met Charles Rak, who lived a few blocks away. Charles was a Navy veteran, and a graduate of Lehigh University's school of engineering. He eventually worked at the Naval Air Warfare Center, Aircraft Division, Trenton, as an electrical engineer responsible for instrumentation and data acquisition. Charles and Lottie were married on Oct. 10, 1953, at Saint Hedwig Church, and Lottie later gave birth to their three children. Charles, or "Walt" as he was affectionately known, was the love of Lottie's life. Their dreams of raising children and growing old together abruptly ended when Charles died in 1965, at age 45. In the face of tragedy, Lottie reached deep into her faith in God to move forward, to ensure that her children had the family life and opportunity she and Charles wanted for them. To support her children and be near them, Lottie cooked at Saint Hedwig School's cafeteria and cleaned and pressed altar linens for the church. She also designed and sewed tabernacle veils. In later life, she sold produce at Russo's Fruit & Vegetable Farm stand at the Trenton Farmer's Market. Its proprietor, Anthony Russo Jr., always commented on her ability to unload farm trucks with ease and sell more bushels of produce than any of her co-workers. Her job there entailed long hours, but she loved the market and her interaction with its customers. Lottie worked there well into her 70s. Lottie's work ethic stemmed from a determination to provide her children the highest levels of education. Her son, Ronald Rak, a lawyer, is the CEO of Saint Peter's Healthcare System in New Brunswick, NJ. Her daughter, Lorraine Rak, also a lawyer, is a deputy attorney general/section chief with the State of New Jersey. Her daughter, Kathleen Kolczynski, who received a master's degree in education, is a reading and language specialist. Lottie fulfilled the promise she made to her children the day Charles was buried that her son and daughters alike would receive an education. Lottie was proud of her Polish heritage. At Easter and Christmas, she continued her mother's Polish traditions, making golumpki, pierogi and borscht, baking babka and observing wigilia. A member of the Trenton Polish Arts Club, she was elected its corresponding secretary, assisting with the club's annual gala that raised college scholarships for high school seniors. Lottie hosted many Thanksgiving, Christmas, and Easter dinners, birthdays and other celebrations, as well as her favorite summer barbeques. At a moment's notice, she was prepared to entertain guests with a meal, home-baked pies or lemon bars. Her definition of family extended far beyond those related by blood. Lottie was a skilled seamstress, making dresses and other garments for her sisters, Sophie and Helen, and her daughters. She was very proficient in embroidery and crocheting. Her home furniture was adorned with intricate crocheted doilies and tablecloths. During holidays, she could be found wearing one of her many embroidered aprons. Lottie crocheted well over 500 afghans for family members, neighbors, and friends. She was proud of her skill, presenting personalized afghans to Saint Pope John Paul II, Presidents Jimmy Carter and Bill Clinton, New York City Mayor Edward Koch, and the late actor, Christopher Reeve. Lottie later made blankets for the newborn infants at Saint Peter's University Hospital. Religion played an important role in Lottie's life. As a young woman, she belonged to the Sodality at Holy Cross Church. As a parishioner of Saint Hedwig Church, she devoted countless hours to volunteer work for the church and parish school. Lottie felt a particular connection to Saint Pope John Paul II, the first Pope of Polish heritage. She was at Newark Airport in September of 1995 when he arrived in the U.S. In 2001, she traveled to The Vatican where she was granted an audience with the future saint. This past September, she attended the Mass offered by Pope Francis at Madison Square Garden. In 2012, Lottie was installed as a Lady of The Equestrian Order of the Holy Sepulchre of Jerusalem, Eastern Lieutenancy of the U.S. In October 2015, she was promoted to the rank of Lady Commander at Saint Patrick's Cathedral, New York City. Lottie developed decades-long friendships with many religious, most especially Most Reverend Paul Gregory Bootkoski, Bishop Emeritus of Metuchen, and Sister Mary Charlotte Wszolek, CSSF. Lottie was predeceased by her mother and father; her husband, Charles; her siblings, Walter, Alexander, Sophie, Stanley, Andrew, Helen, Peter, and Frances; and many cousins, including her beloved cousin, Florence Krawiec. Lottie will be affectionately remembered by her son, Ronald of Ewing, NJ, her daughter, Lorraine of Bloomfield, NJ, her daughter and son-in-law, Kathleen and John Kolczynski of Kissimmee, FL, her granddaughter, Julianna Kolczynski of Kissimmee, FL; her beloved miniature schnauzer, Charlie; her nephews, John Bogdan of Lawrenceville, NJ, and his wife Julianne, Joseph Bogdan of Ewing, his wife, Sally and their daughter, Jennifer, Francis ("Frankie") Wszolek of Stewartsville, NJ, Richard Debiec of West Amwell, NJ, and Michael Markulec and his wife, Mary Anne of Hobe Sound, FL; her nieces, Dorothy Bruder of Drexel Hill, PA, Cynthia Kirchner of Lambertville, NJ, and her husband, John, and Kathleen Mantuano of Hamilton, NJ, her husband, Anthony and their daughter, Kelley; and her brother-in-law, Julius Wszolek of Trenton. Lottie's extended family includes her "adopted grandson," Michael Rosa of Ewing, her "adopted son," Leo Cortelezzi of Califon, NJ, Leo's wife, Peggy and children, Luna and Lucas, her caregivers, Agnes Karnicka and Sheriefa Saleh, as well as Nayan Kothari, M.D. and Joan C. Lynn, FNP, MSN. In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made in Lottie's memory to The Saint Peter's Foundation, 254 Easton Ave., New Brunswick, NJ 08901, or Saint Hedwig R. C. Church, 872 Brunswick Ave., Trenton, NJ 08638. Funeral arrangements are under the direction of the Winowicz Funeral Home.