Chester L. Zaleski

Chester L. Zaleski

Chester L. Zaleski, age 95, of Erie, passed away on Saturday, November, 29, 2025, at the Erie VA Community Living Center. He was born on January 10, 1930, in Erie, PA, the son of the late Boleslaw and Felixa (Wisniewski) Zaleski.

Chester shortly after high school joined the Air Force and served during the Korean War. He was stationed in multiple locations around the world including Iceland and Germany. He was honorably discharged after serving many years in a reserve status. He was incredibly proud of his military service. It was in Valdosta, Georgia, where his last duty station was, when he met the love of his life, Bobbie Shores of Thomasville, GA.

Chester and Bobbie after they were married returned to his hometown of Erie, PA and began their life together. Chester attained his college degree in the evenings all while starting a family. Chester was a devout Catholic and was involved with the founding of Our Lady of Peace Catholic Church along with many pastors and fellow parishioners. Their combined efforts established the wonderful parish that sits there today.

Chester owned his own insurance agency for many years before retiring in 1992. He was very generous with many of the people he had insured over the years and truly cared about them. After retirement he and Bobbie played golf together with their friends at the Lawrence Park Golf Club in Erie and traveled up and down the east coast. He also owned several boats on Lake Erie and hosted fish fries with friends and family,

Chester found a calling at the Erie Veterans Administration in Erie and decided he was going to volunteer helping veterans whom he felt a strong connection to. He spent over 20 years as a volunteer helping veterans navigate their way at the Erie facility. It was only in 2020 at the age of 90 that he stopped due to the pandemic (not by choice). He truly loved his volunteer work and spoke so highly of the excellent service the Erie VA provided.

Chester was gifted with an outgoing personality and charisma which could draw anyone in with his charm and ice blue eyes. He truly loved his family dearly and was blessed with a large family spanning generations down to his two great-grandchildren. Even though we had him in our lives for 95 years we truly wanted more time with him as selfish as that may sound. He will be missed by all including his caregivers at the Erie VA CLC during his long goodbye.

Chester was preceded in death by an infant son Michael Jerome Zaleskiand a son-in-law, James (Rusty) Hopkins.

Survivors include his wife of 71 years, Bobbie C. (Shores) Zaleski and five children: Deborah (Zaleski) Hopkins, Kim Zaleski, Michele (Zaleski) Fendya (William), Mark Zaleski (Kristianne), and Mary Beth (Zaleski) Rogers (Franklin) all of Erie. Also surviving are several grandchildren who he dearly loved; Stephen, Kelly, Brian, Matthew, Lauren, Kathryn, John Christopher, Danielle, and Tyler, as well as two great-grandchildren; Gabriell and Daphne.

The Zaleski family wanted to share a special thanks for his caregivers at the Erie VA and CLC Alpha who exemplified what the model of hospice care should be. They are the reason we were able to spend many reflective days with him.

Dr. Bharwani, Dr. Cooney, Kathy, Emily, Jen, Nicole, Macie, Tasha, Gretchen, Connie, Logan, Darlene, and the rest of the staff, we truly love you and appreciate the care you provided. Chester may have "adopted" many of you during his time there and we should have probably listed you as family.

A Funeral Mass will be held on Wednesday, December 3, 2025 at Our Lady of Peace R.C. Church, 2401 West 38th Street at 1:30 pm officiated by Father Michael DeMartinis followed by a private interment at Mary Queen of Peace Mausoleum.

Memorials may be made to the Erie Veterans Administration Hospital in Erie via their website.

All arrangements were made through the Dusckas-Martin Funeral Home and Crematory, Inc., 4216 Sterrettania Rd., Erie, PA 16506.