Jennie Ann Pelkowski

Jennie Ann Pelkowski
Jennie Ann Pelkowski, age 39, died unexpectedly in her sleep on Sunday, May 12, 2024. Jennie was a vivacious, outgoing, fun woman who had friends and acquaintances all over Erie. Her special gift was to brighten someone's day, especially someone who appeared to be sad, grumpy or stressed. She went out of her way to show kindness, especially to those who were elderly and infirm. "Watch this," she'd say. "I'll make them smile." She could be outrageous, yelling greetings out of car windows at strangers. She delighted in simple pleasures: a sunset, the lake, the stars, flowers, a good cup of coffee and chocolate.
Jennie was the daughter of Mary Ann Pelkowski, her faithful companion, and Gary Adams. She was preceded in death by her beloved grandmother, Jennie Jean Pelkowski. From childhood, Jennie was ready for any adventure or new experience. Although very young when she became a mother, Jenn was attentive, engaged and incredibly proud of her children's accomplishments. They were her greatest love and joy.
Sadly, the disease of addiction overtook her life and created a rupture from those she loved and from her own deepest desires. After almost a decade of daily heroin use, she began to turn things around thanks to an excellent program at SCI Cambridge Springs and the help of methadone; but during the pandemic she turned to other substances. The cycle of addiction, poverty, prison, periods of recovery, methadone treatment, homelessness was devastating. Still, Jenn was caring and interested in others. She always kept up hope that someday she would be able to do things like fly in an airplane, see the Grand Canyon, cruise on the Victorian Princess (planned for this summer). Of course, her greatest hope was to be in recovery and rebuild connections with loved ones.
She faced roadblocks from systems that could have helped her, which reinforced the roadblocks within herself, especially her insistence to recover on her own. What turned out to be her final challenge was especially daunting. She lingered in prison until a shelter bed became available, and left prison with no plan, no ID, no clothes, no money, no source of income, no phone, no address and no medications-including the mental health prescriptions she had needed before and during her incarceration. Her wait for an appointment to get meds was over two months. She didn't make it. Despite the difficulty, she was trying, in her way, to stay away from drugs. Whether what took her was an overdose or a neglected medical condition doesn't really matter-the cause was the disease of addiction. And, she is now in peace, the voices tormenting her stilled, the emotional and physical pains resolved. And we have lost a strong and bright light whose strength, potential and possibilities were cut short.
She is survived by friends and also by family--aunts and uncles, siblings, and children who have grieved the beautiful young woman they lost years ago. She would want for them now all the peace, joy and love she was not able to give. She is survived also by me, her godmother, Anne McCarthy, OSB. It has been so painful to walk with her and not be able to change the circumstances of her life or remove roadblocks that crushed her. It has also been a privilege, a gift and sometimes even a joy to walk with her on her journey. In many ways, she has been my teacher.
Family and friends are invited to gather at the Dusckas Funeral Home and Cremation Services, Inc., 2607 Buffalo Rd., on Monday, May 20th from 6 to 8 pm, with a simple service to be held there at 7:15 pm.