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Services
Friends may visit with the family at the Vander May Wayne Colonial Funeral Home, 567 Ratzer Road, Wayne, on Tuesday, July 7, 2015 from 2-4 and 7-9 PM.
Funeral services will be held at 9:00 AM on Wednesday, July 8, 2015 from the funeral home, then to Our Lady of the Valley Church, 630 Valley Road, Wayne, where at 10:00 AM, a Funeral Mass will be offered.
Leonard C. Sielski, age 78, of Paterson, passed away peacefully on Saturday, July 4, 2015, while his wife, children and grandchildren stood lovingly by his side.
Lenny was born in Jersey City, one of Charles and Anna Sielski’s seven children. He called Jersey City home until joining the U.S. Army in 1955 at age eighteen. He proudly served his country as a member of the U.S. Army from 1955 to 1957, continuing after to serve in the Army Reserves until 1963.
One night in 1957 Lenny attended a polka dance at a dance hall in Dover. There he was introduced to a lovely young gal named Lillian Goik. Now Lenny was an accomplished Polka dancer and it didn’t take long for him to realize that Lillian was too. They impressed each other with their dancing abilities and really fell for each other that night. They married on Saturday, June 13, 1959 at Our Lady of Lourdes Church on River Street in Paterson. A reception followed at the Polish hall and while Lenny didn’t have to pay for the reception, to this day, he still had numerous expense receipts from that night. It’s interesting to note that the chicken dinners that were served at the reception were $2.50 each and the open bar was approximately $100 for the whole night. Following a honeymoon in Miami Beach, FL, the newlyweds moved into the house in Paterson where they’ve lived all their 56 years in a wonderful loving marriage together.
Lenny and Lillian were blessed with two sons. Lillian cared for matters of raising those boys and taking care of their home, while also working throughout the years at Barnett Hospital and GAF, and Lenny enjoyed a thirty-year career as an accounting manager with Hostess Brands/Wonder Bread in Paterson. Lenny always worked hard but he enjoyed it. Following retirement from Wonder Bread, he worked into his seventies for Entenmann’s and Drakes and Foods, retiring completely in 2008.
First and foremost, Lenny loved being with his family, extended family and friends. It didn’t matter what he did with you, he just liked having a good conversation and spending time together. Lenny was a great gardener and he especially enjoyed planting petunias with his grandchildren in the spring and tending to his gorgeous roses that probably would have won prizes. A determined-to-win gambler, he and Lillian took regular trips to Atlantic City where Lenny exclusively played the slots. His boys recall hot summer days heading down the Garden State Parkway with the 2-60 air conditioning on in the car (2 windows down going 60 miles per hour) for a day trip to Barnegat Bay to go crabbing. He continued to love polka music and enjoy dancing all night to a good polka band with Lillian.
Lenny especially loved the holidays and holiday foods, mostly because it was a perfect time to share with his whole family. A long-standing tradition of growing horse radish and gathering with his children and grandchildren to make it from scratch took place at the Sielski house every year on Easter morning. While Lenny could frequently be seen around Wayne either drinking coffee with friends or buying lottery tickets, it can’t be said enough how much this man adored his wife, children and grandchildren! He was very relational, sometimes showing up at his son’s house numerous times per week, just to have coffee or to help with a project or take his grandchildren to school. He always wanted to help them by lending a hand in whatever way he possibly could.
Lenny was a man of great determination who fearlessly demonstrated it by fighting and, for many years, surviving a seventeen-year battle with three different types of cancer. He always tried to live life to the fullest and demonstrated that great attitude by doing such activities as back-packing across Poland as well as boogie-boarding down the shore, both well into his sixties! He was also a man of faith who for many years attended St. Gerard R.C. Church in Paterson and later, Our Lady of the Valley Church in Wayne. He learned many good virtues about life there and recently shared the following insightful words of wisdom with his family:
“Be true, patient, and compassionate. Always remember there are people much worse off than you. Keep close ties with family. They are the ones who will help you in times of need. Try to always think positive. It will help you get through many hard times. Live life to the fullest. You can never tell what is going to happen down the road. Always listen to advise from family – you may not like it or agree with it but at least examine the facts and don’t get hostile toward them since they are only concerned about your well-being. Have faith and respect.”
Leonard was the beloved husband of Lillian (nee Goik) for 56 years. He was the loving father of Mark Sielski and his wife Marie, and Brian Sielski and his wife Prin. He was the adored grandfather of Christina, Michael, Aleksandra, and Anastasia. He was also the dear brother of Theresa Rychalsky and is also survived by numerous nieces and nephews. Leonard was predeceased by his dear parents: Charles and Anna Sielski; his wife Lillian’s dear parents: Wasyl and Katryna Goik; two dear brothers: Walter and Frank; and three dear sisters: Mae, Jean, and Josie.
Because of Leonard’s great love for them, in lieu of memorial contributions, those planning an expression of sympathy are asked to consider sending flowers.
If you would like to send a private condolence directly to the family use this condolence section.
Friends may visit with the family at the Vander May Wayne Colonial Funeral Home, 567 Ratzer Road, Wayne, on Tuesday, July 7, 2015 from 2-4 and 7-9 PM.
Funeral services will be held at 9:00 AM on Wednesday, July 8, 2015 from the funeral home, then to Our Lady of the Valley Church, 630 Valley Road, Wayne, where at 10:00 AM, a Funeral Mass will be offered.
Services
Friends may visit with the family at the Vander May Wayne Colonial Funeral Home, 567 Ratzer Road, Wayne, on Tuesday, July 7, 2015 from 2-4 and 7-9 PM.
Funeral services will be held at 9:00 AM on Wednesday, July 8, 2015 from the funeral home, then to Our Lady of the Valley Church, 630 Valley Road, Wayne, where at 10:00 AM, a Funeral Mass will be offered.
Leonard C. Sielski, age 78, of Paterson, passed away peacefully on Saturday, July 4, 2015, while his wife, children and grandchildren stood lovingly by his side.
Lenny was born in Jersey City, one of Charles and Anna Sielski’s seven children. He called Jersey City home until joining the U.S. Army in 1955 at age eighteen. He proudly served his country as a member of the U.S. Army from 1955 to 1957, continuing after to serve in the Army Reserves until 1963.
One night in 1957 Lenny attended a polka dance at a dance hall in Dover. There he was introduced to a lovely young gal named Lillian Goik. Now Lenny was an accomplished Polka dancer and it didn’t take long for him to realize that Lillian was too. They impressed each other with their dancing abilities and really fell for each other that night. They married on Saturday, June 13, 1959 at Our Lady of Lourdes Church on River Street in Paterson. A reception followed at the Polish hall and while Lenny didn’t have to pay for the reception, to this day, he still had numerous expense receipts from that night. It’s interesting to note that the chicken dinners that were served at the reception were $2.50 each and the open bar was approximately $100 for the whole night. Following a honeymoon in Miami Beach, FL, the newlyweds moved into the house in Paterson where they’ve lived all their 56 years in a wonderful loving marriage together.
Lenny and Lillian were blessed with two sons. Lillian cared for matters of raising those boys and taking care of their home, while also working throughout the years at Barnett Hospital and GAF, and Lenny enjoyed a thirty-year career as an accounting manager with Hostess Brands/Wonder Bread in Paterson. Lenny always worked hard but he enjoyed it. Following retirement from Wonder Bread, he worked into his seventies for Entenmann’s and Drakes and Foods, retiring completely in 2008.
First and foremost, Lenny loved being with his family, extended family and friends. It didn’t matter what he did with you, he just liked having a good conversation and spending time together. Lenny was a great gardener and he especially enjoyed planting petunias with his grandchildren in the spring and tending to his gorgeous roses that probably would have won prizes. A determined-to-win gambler, he and Lillian took regular trips to Atlantic City where Lenny exclusively played the slots. His boys recall hot summer days heading down the Garden State Parkway with the 2-60 air conditioning on in the car (2 windows down going 60 miles per hour) for a day trip to Barnegat Bay to go crabbing. He continued to love polka music and enjoy dancing all night to a good polka band with Lillian.
Lenny especially loved the holidays and holiday foods, mostly because it was a perfect time to share with his whole family. A long-standing tradition of growing horse radish and gathering with his children and grandchildren to make it from scratch took place at the Sielski house every year on Easter morning. While Lenny could frequently be seen around Wayne either drinking coffee with friends or buying lottery tickets, it can’t be said enough how much this man adored his wife, children and grandchildren! He was very relational, sometimes showing up at his son’s house numerous times per week, just to have coffee or to help with a project or take his grandchildren to school. He always wanted to help them by lending a hand in whatever way he possibly could.
Lenny was a man of great determination who fearlessly demonstrated it by fighting and, for many years, surviving a seventeen-year battle with three different types of cancer. He always tried to live life to the fullest and demonstrated that great attitude by doing such activities as back-packing across Poland as well as boogie-boarding down the shore, both well into his sixties! He was also a man of faith who for many years attended St. Gerard R.C. Church in Paterson and later, Our Lady of the Valley Church in Wayne. He learned many good virtues about life there and recently shared the following insightful words of wisdom with his family:
“Be true, patient, and compassionate. Always remember there are people much worse off than you. Keep close ties with family. They are the ones who will help you in times of need. Try to always think positive. It will help you get through many hard times. Live life to the fullest. You can never tell what is going to happen down the road. Always listen to advise from family – you may not like it or agree with it but at least examine the facts and don’t get hostile toward them since they are only concerned about your well-being. Have faith and respect.”
Leonard was the beloved husband of Lillian (nee Goik) for 56 years. He was the loving father of Mark Sielski and his wife Marie, and Brian Sielski and his wife Prin. He was the adored grandfather of Christina, Michael, Aleksandra, and Anastasia. He was also the dear brother of Theresa Rychalsky and is also survived by numerous nieces and nephews. Leonard was predeceased by his dear parents: Charles and Anna Sielski; his wife Lillian’s dear parents: Wasyl and Katryna Goik; two dear brothers: Walter and Frank; and three dear sisters: Mae, Jean, and Josie.
Because of Leonard’s great love for them, in lieu of memorial contributions, those planning an expression of sympathy are asked to consider sending flowers.
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