Published December 13, 2019
MELROSE — Wanda (Bugajski) Orlowski, 98, of Melrose, died peacefully on December 2, 2019 at the age of 98.
Wanda was born in Valier, Ill. on February 9, 1921 to the late Andrew and Stella (Zenko) Bugajski.
Wanda graduated from Valier High School and Illinois State University. She went to work as a high school business teacher in Christopher, Ill. She taught Morse Code at the start of WWII. During this time, she met Zygmunt (Zig) Orlowski. When Zig, his brother Matt, and her brother Henry left to serve in WWII, Wanda left teaching to help Zig’s parents in their family business, Sawicki Grocery, in West Frankfort, Ill.
Wanda and Zig were married at St. John’s Catholic Church on Jan. 8, 1946 and settled into raising a family and their work at Sawicki’s. Wanda belonged to sororities where she would play cards and do church and community service. She loved to cook and entertain family and friends, and tend to her garden. She is well remembered by her grandchildren for creating elaborate Easter egg and scavenger hunts for them in the neighborhood.
Wanda’s family would like to thank the staff at Winchester Nursing Center in Winchester for the exceptional care they provided during her time there.
Wanda was the beloved wife of the late Zygmunt Orlowski. Loving mother of Marcia Orlowski and Mary Ann Williams of Mass.; Theresa Nipper and her husband O.H. of Texas; Janice Jones and her husband Dwight of Ill.; and Richard Orlowski and his wife Cheryl of N.C. Mother-in-law of Eileen Orlowski. Cherished grandmother of Tim and Zoe, Mark and his wife Angie, Michael, David and his wife Kendra, Nick and his wife Meg, Lindsay and her husband John, Sara and her husband Ben, Nate, and Natalie. Proud great-grandmother of Laurel, Kenzie, Wyatt, Violet, and Emilia. Loving Aunt to Diane, Janet, Nancy, Gary, and Bill. Wanda was predeceased by her siblings Josephine, Henry, and Walter Bugajski.
Visiting Hours will be held on Saturday, January 4 from 11 a.m. – 1 p.m. at Parker-Reedy Funeral Home, 604 East Main St., West Frankfort, Ill. Funeral service to follow the visiting hours at at Parker-Reedy Funeral Home. Interment to follow the funeral service at St. John’s Catholic Cemetery, West Frankfort, Ill. Relatives and friends are respectfully invited to attend.
