Hedwig K. "Edna" Janicki Kobierski

SALEM - Mrs. Hedwig "Edna" K. (Janicki) Kobierski, 96, of Salem, beloved wife of the late Chester A. Kobierski, Sr., and loving great-grandmother, passed away peacefully on Saturday, March 5, 2022, at Hathorne Hill in Danvers surrounded by her loving family.
Born in Lynn, she was the daughter of the late John and Katherine (Trysniewski) Janicki. She was raised and educated during the depression and war in Lynn and was a graduate of Lynn Classical High School.
Prior to marriage, Edna had been employed by General Electric for several years and Solid State Industries of Salem in their Quality Control Department, where she was known for her strong work ethic and attention to detail. Later, Edna took a position with the Salem School System as a cook in the Carlton and Bentley Schools cafeterias for many years until the time of her retirement.
Strong and kind-hearted, Edna was a loving wife, mother, grandmother, and great-grandmother. She worked hard to provide for her family and was happiest when surrounded by them, especially celebrating and sharing the traditions of her Polish heritage. Her grandchildren were a great source of pride, and she was most proud of their many accomplishments.
Devotion to family, church, and community were the heart of Edna. She was a longtime resident of the City of Salem, a city that she loved. She had strong ties to the Polish Community and was very involved in many activities all around Salem. She was the President of the Polish Falcons, Nest 188 of Salem, a former National Director of the Polish Falcons of America, and an active communicant of the former St. John the Baptist Polish Church (now St. John Paul II Shrine of Divine Mercy) where she served tirelessly as a volunteer. During the annual picnic, Edna would solicit many local businesses for donations to support the picnic and always contributed in any way she could, including setting up, selling baked goods, and cleanup. She was ever-present at the weekly bingo and was one of the founding members of the St. John the Baptist Booster Club, an organization set up to give out scholarships to students attending college and was also a member of the Salem Council on Aging. Edna was a fixture throughout Salem, where she walked everywhere during her daily routine of shopping, Mass, and volunteering. Edna was a throwback to a different era who embodied Polish toughness and determination in everything she did. Edna will be fondly remembered for her willingness to help others, her love of family, devotion to her faith, and will be deeply missed by her loving family and many friends.
Surviving Edna are her children, Carol Keenan and her husband, John of Danvers and Chester Kobierski, Jr. and his wife, Maryellen of Beverly, her grandchildren, Benjamin Keenan of Danvers, Zachary Keenan and his wife, Melissa Durkee of Marblehead, Samuel Keenan and his wife, Hiromi of Okinawa, Japan, Andrew Kobierski of New York City, and Alex Kobierski of Beverly, her great-grandchildren, Mary Edna Keenan and Rimi Keenan of Okinawa, Japan. She was also the sister of the late Stephanie Gardyna and Alexander Zalenski, and William, Felix, and Frank Janicki.
ARRANGEMENTS: Relatives and friends are invited to her funeral Mass which will be held in St. John Paul II Shrine of Divine Mercy, St. Peter Street, Salem on Monday, March 28, 2022, at 10:30 A.M. Burial in St. Mary's Cemetery, Salem. A visitation will be held in O'Donnell Cremations – Funerals – Celebrations, 84 Washington Sq., SALEM, prior to Mass from 9 to 10 A.M. In lieu of flowers expressions of sympathy may be made in Edna's memory to St. John Paul II Shrine of Divine Mercy, 28 St. Peter St., Salem, MA 01970 or to St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, 501 St. Jude Place, Memphis, TN 38105.To share a memory or offer a condolence, please visit www.odonnellfuneralservice.com.
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