Henrietta Irene Pajakowski

Henrietta Irene Pajakowski, 94, passed away on Wednesday, May 3, 2017 following a brief illness. 

She was born Henrietta Lewinski on May 13, 1922 to the late Adolph J. and Tekla (Kaczmarek) Lewinski.  After graduating from St. Stanislaus Grade School, she attended South Bend Catholic High School, where she was the co-valedictorian in 1940. 

After graduating, she worked in the file room of  The Associates financial company.  Her business career was shortened by the death of her mother in January of 1941, which required her to sacrifice her position to become the homemaker for her father, brother, uncle, and grandfather.

On August 15, 1944 she married her high school sweetheart and co-valedictorian, Roman R. Pajakowski.  He died in 1975.

Henrietta was a master of the art of living.  She knew that the secret is to live your life for those around you and to take each joy as it comes, passing it on to others.  She never expected miracles, but believed in them anyway, which is why she lived to see her Cubs win the World Series.

Henrietta’s memory is cherished by her children, Phyllis (Michael) Largey, Mark (Deb) Pajakowski, and Ann Marie (Larry) Rotge; grandchildren, Amy (Ryan) Kominkiewicz and Alex Pajakowski; great-grandchildren, Drew and Devon Kominkiewicz; and many nieces and nephews. 

She was preceded in death by husband Roman, brother Leonard, and brothers- and sisters-in-law Alice Lewinski, Stanley and Virginia Krol, Casimir and Henrietta Pajakowski, Leo and Helen Pajakowski, Ernest and Loretta Pajakowski, and Roy and Teresa Varda.

The family will receive friends on Friday, May 5, 2017 from 4:00 – 8:00 p.m. at Kaniewski Funeral Home.  A rosary will be prayed at 4:30 p.m.  A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated on Saturday, May 6, 2017, at 11:00 a.m. at St. Jude Catholic Church, where friends may visit for one hour prior to the Mass.  Burial will take place in St. Joseph Cemetery.

Memorial contributions may be made to St. Jude Capital Campaign, 19704 Johnson Rd., South Bend, IN  46614.  Online condolences may be left at www.kaniewski.com.