Constance Zacharczyk

Mrs. Constance “Connie” Hansen Zacharczyk, 91, gained her angel wings on Tuesday, March 21, 2023.

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 Sunday, March 26th. from 4:00-8:00PM.  On Monday, March 27th. 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. Elizabeth Roman Catholic Church in Linden at 10:00AM.  The prayers of committal will precede Mrs. Zacharczyk’s burial in the family plot in St. Gertrude Cemetery in Colonia, New Jersey. In lieu of flowers, donations in Connie’s memory may be made to either St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, 501 St. Jude Place, Memphis, TN 38105 http://www.stjude.org or St. Hubert’s Animal Welfare Center, 575 Woodland Avenue, Madison, NJ 07940 http://sthuberts.org. 

Connie, the daughter of the late Mary Bonk Hansen and the late Howard Hansen, was born in Elizabeth, New Jersey and she resided there until settling in Linden, New Jersey sixty-one years ago.

Connie had a twenty year career as an office worker for American Insurance Associates in Rahway, New Jersey and she earned her retirement in 1997.

Throughout her life, Connie held a strong Catholic Faith that she instilled in her family. Her spare time was filled to the brim with activities and interests.  She loved food, especially sweets – her favorite delight were Tasty Cakes.  Anytime Connie was invited to go out for a meal, she would drop everything because she so enjoyed it – that and spending time with her tablemates.  You would think that for someone who enjoyed eating out and relished food in general, that Connie would love to cook.  But oh no!  Although she fancied collecting recipe books so she would browse the pictures on the pages, Connie left the cooking to anyone and everyone else.  Her favorite shows were QVC and HSN and it seemed as if Connie was on a first name basis with all the presenters and call specialists.  She was born for TV shopping.  Connie was not one to let the grass grow under her feet, as she loved to venture out on different exotic cruises, travel with her family to visit the Mouse at Disney in Florida and locally LBI was forever calling her name.  She was ever ready for the LBI road trip, so she could feel the salty breeze, sun shining on her face and the refreshing coolness of the ocean.  Connie was beloved by so many who often referred to her as a sweet, kind, and loving woman who somehow became the sounding board for others, almost like their personal “Dear Abbey”.  People would pour their hearts out to her, because she made them feel so comfortable talking to her and oh how Connie loved to talk!  If you told Connie how wonderful and lovingly sweet she was, she would think you were talking about someone else.  It was a charming part of Connie’s personality that she had no idea how she affected people in such a heartwarming way.  Connie’s life was all about talking, laughing, humming, and comforting others and she simply loved to be around people and above all else, have fun.  One of her favorite sayings that she often repeated was that “her heartbeat were her children and her grandchildren”.  It was very much a reminder to her family just how much they meant to her.  She adored them all!

Predeceased by her husband, Leon E. Zacharczyk (2004); her daughter, Kim Lukenda (2019) and her sister, Dolores Korb; Connie is survived by her daughter, Jill Zacharczyk and her husband Thomas Gassler; her three grandchildren, Noelle Lukenda, Logan Lukenda and Eric Lukenda; her son-in-law, Kevin Lukenda and her two fur grandpuppies, Skippy, the golden doodle and Leo, the black lab.

Connie was the candle that glowed in the inner circle of her family and spread its light and warmth on everyone.  Her faith and her love kept them all united in the understanding of what it means to be a family.  Connie was one in a million.  She will be deeply missed but Connie will always live in our hearts. 

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