Katherine R. Urbanowicz

After graduating from Sherman Central School, New York, she moved to Lawrence Park and worked at General Electric when Pearl Harbor was attacked in 1941. She was one of the original “Rosie the Riveters” when General Electric converted to making military equipment and materials for the war.

She worked at Welch Foods lab in Westfield, New York, as well as in the grape vineyards in the spring and during harvest season. A homemaker, raising four children, she later worked at Sherman Central School as a teachers aid for over twenty years.

She married Joseph Urbanowicz on June 29, 1946. Kay, as she was fondly known, was very active at St. Isaac Jogues Catholic Church in Sherman, New York as a member of the Alter Rosary Society and taught First Communion and religious education classes for many years. She loved taking ceramic classes with longtime friend Bettie Sincox, creating priceless memories for her family. She was an avid bowler with her husband in local leagues, as well as with her cousin Elinor at the Women’s International Bowling Association Tournament receiving her twenty-five year pin at age 91. She and her husband, Joe, loved playing cards with their dear friends Howard and Bettie Sincox every Friday night. Kay and Joe traveled throughout all fifty states and parts of Europe.

She was preceded in death by: her husband, Joseph, son Lt. Col. Gary W. Urbanowicz and brothers: Vic, Harry, Don and Ken Houle.

Survivors include: daughter, Connie Mercurio (Tonawanda, NY), son, Dale (Marilyn) Urbanowicz (Rockingham, VA), daughter-in-law, Maureen Urbanowicz (Sherman, CT) and son, Paul (Rae Jean) Urbanowicz (Waterford, PA), as well as twelve grandchildren and thirteen great grandchildren and two great great grandchildren.

A Funeral Mass and Celebration of Life will take place on Saturday, June 29, 2024, at 11:00 a.m. at St. Isaac Jogues Catholic Church in Sherman, New York, Joe and Kay’s 78th wedding anniversary. Burial to follow at St. James Cemetery in Westfield, New York. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to Hospice of Western New York or Dementia/Alzheimer Association.