Julia H. Kopec Obituary (1919 - 2013)

Visitation Details Wednesday, January 9th, 2013 2:00pm - 4:00pm, Dracut Funeral Home Wednesday, January 9th, 2013 6:00pm - 8:00pm, Dracut Funeral Home Thursday, January 10th, 2013 11:00am, Holy Trinity Church Interment Details Holy Trinity Cemetery Julie (Maciejewski) Kopec - Belvidere Resident Lowell, MA- Julie H. (Maciejewski) Kopec, 93, a lifelong resident of Lowell, passed away peacefully at home on Friday, January 4, 2013, with her family and her cherished cat, Pretty Girl, by her side. She was predeceased by her devoted husband of 44 years Edwin Kopec. Born October 23, 1919, she was the daughter of the late John and the late Emilia (Tomaszewska) Maciejewski of Poland. She was educated at St. Stanislaus School and was a graduate of Lowell High School, class of 1937. A communicant of Holy Trinity Roman Catholic Church in Lowell, she prayed the Rosary every day in both Polish and English. She was a loyal supporter of the veterans as her husband was a Merrill's Marauder and her brother was a Marine. She worked on the Manhattan Project in Washington State during her single years. Many happy memories were recounted from her time on this project, most notably friendships that she developed and sights that she was able to see. She then took some time to care for her family before going to work at Raytheon from which she retired in 1971. She was known to everyone in the neighborhood as Babcia, Polish for grandmother, and spent her entire life devoted to caring for her family. Julie loved to bake and was a phenomenal cook. Proud of her Polish heritage, she shared this with her daughter, granddaughter, friends, and neighbors who were all great fans of her Gol?...bki (stuffed cabbage). She will be fondly remembered for her lively sense of humor and vivid storytelling. She is survived by her daughter Paula Olenick of Tewksbury and her partner Thomas Stupakewicz, granddaughter Melissa Olenick of Lowell, great-granddaughter Julie Olenick (her namesake, expected in February), sisters-in-law Irene (Kopec) Gacek of Dracut and Stephanie (Slowik) Maciejewski of Tewskbury, many nieces, nephews, and godchildren, as well as three "grandchildren" Kathleen, Kathy, and Carol who adopted her. She enjoyed a very special friendship "across the fence" with Gayle and Barney Rua, neighbors of 35 years who looked on her as a mom. Julie was predeceased by her son-in-law, Leonard Olenick, her brother John Maciejewski, and her sisters Josephine Hall, Jenny Maciejewski, and Gladys Kopec. Julie and her family were especially blessed that her nieces, and very loving caretakers, Christine O'Neill and Kathy Gagan were helping to care for her in the last hours. ARRANGEMENTS: Calling hours will be held Wednesday, January 9th from 2-4 and 6-8 PM at the Dracut Funeral Home, 2159 Lakeview Ave., Dracut, MA.. Her funeral will take place from the funeral home THURSDAY at 10 AM with her Funeral Mass to follow at 11AM in the Catholic Church of the Holy Trinity , 340 High St., Lowell, MA. In lieu of flowers, donations in her memory to The Leonard J. Olenick '67 Memorial Scholarship c/o Merrimack College 315 Turnpike Street, Box A8 North Andover, MA 01845 or The Sarah Maciejewski Scholarship c/o Dom Polski - 10 Coburn Street, Lowell, MA 01852, will be much appreciated. Service Details Interment Location Dracut Funeral Home Address