Carolyn Ann Pancurak

Ms. Carolyn Ann Pancurak, 65, of Linden, New Jersey entered the arms of the Lord surrounded by His heavenly host of angels on Saturday, July 9, 2022 in the Center for Hope Hospice in Scotch Plains, New Jersey.

We respectfully request that no one arrive at the funeral home prior to the posted visitation times, so as not to intrude on the family’s private time. 

Family and friends are invited to the visitation in the Kowalski Funeral Home, 515 Roselle Street, Linden on Wednesday, July 20^th. from 5:00-8:00PM.  On Thursday, July 21^st. at 8:30AM, everyone will start to gather in the funeral home where a prayer service will begin at 9:00AM, followed by the funeral mass to be offered in St. Theresa of the Child Jesus Roman Catholic Church, Linden at 10:00AM.  The prayers of committal will precede Carolyn’s burial in the family plot in St. Gertrude Cemetery in Colonia, New Jersey.

Carolyn, the daughter of the late Veronica Petronella Karlavage Pancurak and the late Andrew Pancurak, Sr., was born in West Mahanoy Township, Pennsylvania and Carolyn has lived in Linden, New Jersey since she was eighteen months old.

Carolyn attended public elementary school No. 6 and Soehl Junior High School, both in Linden and she was a 1975 graduate of Linden High School.  Carolyn furthered her education by attending Rutgers University in New Brunswick, where she graduated in 1979 with a Bachelor of Science Degree in Elementary Education.  She also held teaching certificates for Pre-K and Special Education.

Carolyn’s work history spanned forty-one years, starting with her teaching at St. Theresa’s Grammar School in Linden for twenty-seven years.  She then transferred to St. Anthony’s (Our Lady of Guadalupe) Grammar School in Elizabeth, where she taught for two years.  Carolyn’s final teaching position was at St. Theresa’s Grammar School in Kenilworth, where she spent twelve years before her retirement in 2020.  Carolyn thoroughly enjoyed teaching all her students in each of these locations throughout the years.  Additionally, Carolyn taught CCD classes in St. George Byzantine Catholic Church and St. Theresa’s Roman Catholic Church, both in Linden. 

In 1993, Carolyn received the Outstanding Educator Award from the Archdiocese of Newark.  She was also recognized with the Junior Achievement of New Jersey serving Union, Middlesex and Somerset Counties, Outstanding Teacher and Volunteer Partnership May 2002 Award.

Carolyn’s faith was very important to her, and she was a member of two churches, St. George Byzantine Catholic Church and St. Theresa of the Child Jesus Roman Catholic Church, both in Linden.  She was an active parishioner at St. Theresa of the Child Jesus Roman Catholic Church in Linden, serving as a lector, eucharistic minister, children’s choir director and president of the parish council.  In her free time, Carolyn enjoyed traveling and visiting the Jersey shore in the summer with her friends.

In addition to her parents, Carolyn was predeceased by her brother, Andrew Pancurak, Jr.

She is survived by her sister, Virginia M. Adasczik; her seven nieces and nephews, Paula Van Clef and her husband, Michael, Michael Adasczik and his wife, Melissa, Erin Adasczik, Matthew Adasczik, Jeffrey Pancurak, Sr., Suzanne Carr and her husband, Chuck and Kathleen Elgrim and her husband, Ernie; her six great nieces and seven great nephews; Alex Van Clef, Kevin Adasczik, Olivia Adasczik, Mason Adasczik, Lily Adasczik, Kaylee Adasczik, Silas Adasczik, Jeffrey Pancurak, Caitlin Pancurak, Abigal Carr, Cameron Carr, Thomas Elgrim and Megan Elgrim; her many church family members, work associates, neighbors and friends.  Carolyn was a woman who inspired many through her gift of teaching and she had an abundance of love for everyone in her circle.  She will be deeply missed, but she will never be forgotten.

To send flowers to the family, please visit our floral store.