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August 21, 2026
Services
Friends and family may visit at the Vander May Wayne Colonial Funeral Home on Sunday, August 23, from 2:00 to 6:00 p.m. Funeral services will begin at the funeral home on Monday, August 24, at 9:30 a.m., followed by a 10:30 a.m. Funeral Mass at Our Lady of the Valley.
Lillian Sielski, age 90, passed away on August 20, 2026.
Born on Friday, March 13, 1936, in Paterson, New Jersey, Lillian was the daughter of Wasyl and Kataryna Goik, who emigrated from Ukraine. An only child and a lifelong Patersonian, she was raised in the city, attended Central High School, and continued to call Paterson home for nearly nine decades.
Lillian held a number of clerical positions during her early working years. Among her principal employers were Barnert Memorial Hospital in Paterson, Singer-Kearfott in Little Falls, and GAF in Wayne. She continued working well into her 70s at GAF, finally retiring only when she was told it was time to do so—a fitting reflection of her independence, determination, and strong work ethic.
On June 13, 1959, Lillian married Leonard Sielski. Their story together began, appropriately enough, with polka dancing. Leonard loved to polka, and as the story was often told to the family, his original date wasn't much of a dancer. Lillian, however, was more than willing to polka and made sure she got her opportunity. It apparently worked.
During the 1960s and 1970s, polka dancing remained an important part of their lives. Lillian and Leonard could often be found at places such as Polonia Acres, where they would spend hours polka dancing while their two boys found their own ways to keep themselves occupied—and occasionally find a little trouble.
Lillian grew up with her parents in Paterson's Bunker Hill section. In 1964, Lillian and Leonard moved with Wasyl and Kataryna across the city to the Hillcrest section. Keeping her parents close was important to her, and the families remained closely connected there for many years. When her mother suffered a stroke, Lillian helped care for her, another example of the devotion and sense of responsibility she showed toward those she loved. Hillcrest became the center of Lillian's family life, the place where she and Leonard raised their sons and where she would remain until 2023, when a fall and broken hip required her to leave the home that had been such a constant in her life.
Together, Lillian and Leonard raised two sons, Mark Sielski, born in 1962, and Brian Sielski, born in 1966, both in Paterson. They worked hard and sacrificed to give their sons every opportunity they could, doing as much as possible to make sure both received college educations and went on to careers in technical fields. More important than any education or career, however, Lillian taught her sons the importance of brotherly love, supporting one another, and always being there for family.
Family traditions were an important part of Lillian's life. When her parents were still living, the family kitchen could become a production line for as many as 200 pierogi at a time. Ukrainian Easter traditions were also carried on through the making of intricately decorated Easter eggs, connecting another generation of the family to the heritage brought to Paterson by Wasyl and Kataryna.
Lillian loved family gatherings and looked forward to Easter, Thanksgiving, Christmas, and any other occasion that brought everyone together. She also made certain that being a guest did not prevent her from having a say in the menu. Lillian had a way of making sure that most, if not all, of her favorite foods found their way onto the table.
She was also, by her family's affectionate description, a world-class worrywart. If there was a scam, criminal, tornado, rainstorm, dangerous road condition, or almost anything else being reported on the news, chances were Lillian had already seen it—and her sons and grandchildren were about to receive a telephone call warning them about it. Those calls continued throughout her life, right up until her final day. Behind every warning was the same thing that had always motivated her: she worried because she cared, and she wanted to make certain the people she loved were safe.
Lillian also loved dogs, and poodles in particular. Through much of her life, there was a poodle by her side; over the years, she had four of them. They were very much part of her home and family, and her affection for them reflected the same caring nature she showed toward the people around her.
Beginning in the 1980s, Lillian and Leonard discovered another favorite pastime: Atlantic City. During the city's casino boom years, they became enthusiastic visitors, enjoying the slot machines, taking in shows, and simply getting away together for a little fun.
Lillian was a determined woman throughout her life. That determination showed itself in many ways—she worked well into her 70s, remained fiercely independent, cared for her mother when she was needed, kept her family close, and never stopped looking out for the people she loved. That same determination stayed with her at the end. She did not give up easily. She held on as long as she could, with the same strength and stubborn determination that had carried her through so many years.
Lillian was predeceased by her husband, Leonard Sielski, who passed away in 2015, and by her parents, Wasyl and Kataryna Goik, who both passed away in 1992. She is survived by her two sons and their families: Mark Sielski and his wife, Marie, and their children, Christina and Michael; and Brian Sielski and his wife, Prin, and their daughters, Aleksandra and Anastasia.
If you would like to send a private condolence directly to the family use this condolence section.
Friends and family may visit at the Vander May Wayne Colonial Funeral Home on Sunday, August 23, from 2:00 to 6:00 p.m. Funeral services will begin at the funeral home on Monday, August 24, at 9:30 a.m., followed by a 10:30 a.m. Funeral Mass at Our Lady of the Valley.
August 21, 2026
Services
Friends and family may visit at the Vander May Wayne Colonial Funeral Home on Sunday, August 23, from 2:00 to 6:00 p.m. Funeral services will begin at the funeral home on Monday, August 24, at 9:30 a.m., followed by a 10:30 a.m. Funeral Mass at Our Lady of the Valley.
Lillian Sielski, age 90, passed away on August 20, 2026.
Born on Friday, March 13, 1936, in Paterson, New Jersey, Lillian was the daughter of Wasyl and Kataryna Goik, who emigrated from Ukraine. An only child and a lifelong Patersonian, she was raised in the city, attended Central High School, and continued to call Paterson home for nearly nine decades.
Lillian held a number of clerical positions during her early working years. Among her principal employers were Barnert Memorial Hospital in Paterson, Singer-Kearfott in Little Falls, and GAF in Wayne. She continued working well into her 70s at GAF, finally retiring only when she was told it was time to do so—a fitting reflection of her independence, determination, and strong work ethic.
On June 13, 1959, Lillian married Leonard Sielski. Their story together began, appropriately enough, with polka dancing. Leonard loved to polka, and as the story was often told to the family, his original date wasn't much of a dancer. Lillian, however, was more than willing to polka and made sure she got her opportunity. It apparently worked.
During the 1960s and 1970s, polka dancing remained an important part of their lives. Lillian and Leonard could often be found at places such as Polonia Acres, where they would spend hours polka dancing while their two boys found their own ways to keep themselves occupied—and occasionally find a little trouble.
Lillian grew up with her parents in Paterson's Bunker Hill section. In 1964, Lillian and Leonard moved with Wasyl and Kataryna across the city to the Hillcrest section. Keeping her parents close was important to her, and the families remained closely connected there for many years. When her mother suffered a stroke, Lillian helped care for her, another example of the devotion and sense of responsibility she showed toward those she loved. Hillcrest became the center of Lillian's family life, the place where she and Leonard raised their sons and where she would remain until 2023, when a fall and broken hip required her to leave the home that had been such a constant in her life.
Together, Lillian and Leonard raised two sons, Mark Sielski, born in 1962, and Brian Sielski, born in 1966, both in Paterson. They worked hard and sacrificed to give their sons every opportunity they could, doing as much as possible to make sure both received college educations and went on to careers in technical fields. More important than any education or career, however, Lillian taught her sons the importance of brotherly love, supporting one another, and always being there for family.
Family traditions were an important part of Lillian's life. When her parents were still living, the family kitchen could become a production line for as many as 200 pierogi at a time. Ukrainian Easter traditions were also carried on through the making of intricately decorated Easter eggs, connecting another generation of the family to the heritage brought to Paterson by Wasyl and Kataryna.
Lillian loved family gatherings and looked forward to Easter, Thanksgiving, Christmas, and any other occasion that brought everyone together. She also made certain that being a guest did not prevent her from having a say in the menu. Lillian had a way of making sure that most, if not all, of her favorite foods found their way onto the table.
She was also, by her family's affectionate description, a world-class worrywart. If there was a scam, criminal, tornado, rainstorm, dangerous road condition, or almost anything else being reported on the news, chances were Lillian had already seen it—and her sons and grandchildren were about to receive a telephone call warning them about it. Those calls continued throughout her life, right up until her final day. Behind every warning was the same thing that had always motivated her: she worried because she cared, and she wanted to make certain the people she loved were safe.
Lillian also loved dogs, and poodles in particular. Through much of her life, there was a poodle by her side; over the years, she had four of them. They were very much part of her home and family, and her affection for them reflected the same caring nature she showed toward the people around her.
Beginning in the 1980s, Lillian and Leonard discovered another favorite pastime: Atlantic City. During the city's casino boom years, they became enthusiastic visitors, enjoying the slot machines, taking in shows, and simply getting away together for a little fun.
Lillian was a determined woman throughout her life. That determination showed itself in many ways—she worked well into her 70s, remained fiercely independent, cared for her mother when she was needed, kept her family close, and never stopped looking out for the people she loved. That same determination stayed with her at the end. She did not give up easily. She held on as long as she could, with the same strength and stubborn determination that had carried her through so many years.
Lillian was predeceased by her husband, Leonard Sielski, who passed away in 2015, and by her parents, Wasyl and Kataryna Goik, who both passed away in 1992. She is survived by her two sons and their families: Mark Sielski and his wife, Marie, and their children, Christina and Michael; and Brian Sielski and his wife, Prin, and their daughters, Aleksandra and Anastasia.
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