Joan Ostrowski

Joan Ostrowski, 94, died peacefully on February 23, 2023.

She was born and raised in Jersey City to the late Chester and Mary Tuchalski (nee Hyjek). She was a graduate of Ferris High School in Jersey City and attended Spencers School of Business. She married the late Ralph J. Kowalik in 1949 and especially enjoyed their years together in Bridgewater where they raised their son Ralph M. and were members of the Church of the Immaculate Conception Parish in Somerville. Joan was widowed in 1970.

Twelve years later she married Chester Ostrowski. They first resided together in Rutherford and then moved to Toms River in 1985 where they had a wonderful, active retirement. Joan was widowed again in 2013. She stayed in Toms River until 2019 when she moved to Texas to be closer to her son.

For most of Joan’s working life, she was a bookkeeper. She was very proud of her final job at NJ Shale, Brick and Tile Corp. in Hillsboro, NJ from which she retired as Office Manager. During retirement she was an Officer in the Polish American Club of Toms River, a member of the Holiday City South Clubs and a member of St. Maximillian Kolbe Parish. She and husband Chet stayed fit dancing many polkas at various senior events and thoroughly enjoyed vacation travel both abroad and around the US.

Joan was extremely proud of her Polish heritage and deeply loved her entire family. She was the organizer of many family reunions and remembered all family members who died with Gregorian Masses. She was an avid gardener who loved flowers. She was also a tireless baker and a self-proclaimed “cookie monster.” She was famous for baking and gifting delicious, visually appealing Christmas cookies and babkas that were admired and looked forward to by family and friends. She enjoyed eating cookies, especially broken ones that she claimed had zero calories.

In high school she studied interior design, and she practiced it constantly in all her homes. She was meticulous and always had everything pretty, balanced, neat and in order just like she kept her accounting books.

She was preceded in death by her beloved sister, Claire Tuchalski and dear stepson John Ostrowski. Surviving are her devoted son, Ralph M. and wife Donna, her stepchildren Chester Jr. and wife Lisa, Mark and wife Mary Beth, and daughter in law Karen, her cherished grandchildren, Sandra, Kathryn, Chester III, Matthew, Kristyn, Tyler (TJ), Erin, and Cara, her 8 great grandchildren, extended family, and friends.

Visitation will be held on Saturday, March 4, 2023 from 8:30-9:30AM at Cusick Funeral Home, 80 Mountain Avenue, Somerville.

A Mass of Christian burial will be celebrated at 10:00AM at The Church of The Immaculate Conception, 35 Mountain Avenue, Somerville.

Interment will follow at Immaculate Conception Cemetery, Somerville

Joan left funeral instructions for us that included a request for NO FLOWERS. Flowers are also not permitted in the church during the Lenten season. If you desire to donate flowers, please consider making them a spiritual bouquet of Masses, Divine Liturgies and/or other prayers and devotions from the religious organization of your choice. Joan had a special spiritual relationship with St. Anthony of Padua, and the following link provides options at the very bottom of the webpage.

https://www.stanthony.org/who-st-anthony/

If sending flowers is a necessary expression of your gratitude and grief for Joan’s life, then please do so.

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