Krystyna M. Malek Obituary
Krystyna (Rzepka) Malek was born January 21st, 1933, in Inowroclaw, Poland. With bravery and perseverance, she lived through WWII, working on a farm with her family in Germany at a displaced persons camp. Her resilience led her to find ways to take care of her family, she learned to forage and live off the land. At the end of the war, as a young teen, she journeyed with her mother, father and 3 sisters to the US.
She settled in Linden, NJ where she had 3 children with her husband, Kazimierz Malek, a Polish chemist. She raised her family with lots of love and was involved with the Polish St. Theresa's Church & School. She was very active in her Polish community where she met some of her closest lifetime friends.
We have many fond memories of her adorned in jewelry and dresses for her formal dances. Krys loved to dance the Lindy Hop and Polka the night away. She enjoyed a night out on the town, attending Broadway performances and dining at Tavern on the Green in New York City. Later in life after she raised her children, she worked at Thomas & Betts and L'oreal USA.
She was a very passionate person when it came to her family. She was an accomplished seamstress as well as cooking, baking and entertaining for her loved ones. Her kitchen always smelled delicious, whether it was cookies in the oven or soup simmering on the stove. Holidays were a very special time at her house. Krys was famous for her assortment of every cookie you could imagine! Many Christmas Eves Wigilias were hosted in her home, all of the Malek family and extended friends gathered for a traditional Polish feast finished with the breaking of the Oplatek (host).
For the last 9 years, she resided in Gloucester, MA. She loved walking the beaches of Magnolia, and appreciating the rugged natural beauty of the local woods - bird watching and picking mushrooms, reminding her of her past times in Europe. She appreciated every full moon and every sunset from her ocean view deck. Her love for New England dining; nothing like a good cup of chowder.
Not only did she cherish her time with her family but also with her new friends, neighbors and close friend Dolly, along with her other lifelong friends from NJ.
She was predeceased by her parents Zofia Frackowiak and Adam Rzepka.
She is survived by her sister Stephanie (Rzepka) Antoniewicz and was predeceased by Stephanie's husband Robert Antoniewicz. She was predeceased by her sister Mary (Rzepka) Nagorny and her husband John Nagorny, and brothers, Bogdan, Janek and Jezyk Rzepka.
She is survived by her children Diane Randise and husband Jon Randise (Somerset, NJ).
Irena Malek-Strumpf and husband Steven Strumpf (Rockport, MA), was predeceased by her son Edward Malek.
Her grandchildren, Diane's children: Ryan & wife Liz Bea (NJ), Michael & wife Laura Bea (NJ). Irena's children: Krysia Strumpf (CA) and Pierce Strumpf (NY), originally from Rockport, MA. Her great grandchildren, Mya, Ashly, Miles, Lucy Bea. She is survived by wonderful loving families, Nagorny (NJ & FL), Antoniewicz (FL), Wolak (NJ), Rosevach (RI). She is survived by her close friends, Emilia Misura (NJ), Helen and Thomas Razin (PA), Barbara Martinson Cafone (NJ).
