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Mrs. Frances ‘Fran” D. Alfano Niemczyk, 98, after many years apart, joined her late husband, Stanley, in heaven on Sunday, July 17, 2022 when she passed away in the Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital in Rahway, 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 Thursday, July 21st. from 4:00-7:00PM. On Friday, July 22nd. 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 Roman Catholic Church in Linden at 10:00AM. The prayers of committal will precede Mrs. Niemczyk’s entombment in the family crypt in St. Gertrude Cemetery in Colonia, New Jersey.
Fran, the daughter of the late Marietta Tripicchio Alfano and the late Donato Alfano, was born and raised in Elizabeth, New Jersey. In 1953, when she married the love of her life, Stanley, they moved to Linden to start their lives together and raise their family and Fran resided in Linden until April of 2020. At that time, she required more day-to-day assistance, so Fran went to live with her daughter, Judy, who took care of her Mom and watched over her.
Fran had a long career as a bookkeeper for the Linden Disposal Company for forty years before retiring in 1990. Prior to that, she worked as a cashier from 1940 to 1950 for R.J. Goerke & Company in Elizabeth.
Fran was a member of many local groups, the St. Theresa Ladies Auxiliary, the Ladies Auxiliary of the Linden Knights of Columbus Council #2859, the Tremley Point Senior Citizens Club, the Knitting and Crocheting Club at the Gregorio Center in Linden and the Linden Senior Men and Women’s Club. Fran was always active within these clubs in many ways. She religiously attended their meetings, spending time with her friends and enjoying their luncheons and programs. At the crocheting club, Fran made afghans, baby blankets, hats, scarves and other items that were donated to various local organizations for people in need. She made the most delicious Italian cookies that everyone drooled over as they devoured every last crumb. Fran was a staple at St. Theresa’s Church when the Pierogi women were working long and hard to produce over 4000 handmade pierogis for the Christmas and Easter holiday and then over 7000 for the Church’s annual picnic. She even asked her brother-in-law, to make the ladies special cutters for the dough rounds. Fran worked tirelessly at the church picnic manning the hot grill, usually on the hottest day of the year, cooking those pierogis for the hundreds of people who waited in line for these delicacies. Fran always had a smile and a conversation for those she held close to her heart. She could also be stubborn and set in her ways, but after all these years, she definitely earned that right! One of the hardest times for Fran was when she had to move out of her beloved home and neighborhood because of her health issues.
Fran was predeceased by her husband, Stanley J. Niemczyk, Sr. on April 29, 2005, and her four siblings, Angela Imbriaco, Sue Maddaluna, Frank Alfano and Carmine Alfano.
Fran is survived by her son, Stanley J. Niemczyk, Jr. and his wife, Donna; her daughter, Judy Muller and her husband, Brian; her sister, Dolores Savage; her six grandchildren, Heather Niemczyk Hall and her husband, Derek, Amanda Niemczyk, Christopher Niemczyk, Amy Nigro Colineri and her husband, John, Matthew Nigro and Brianna Muller and her four great grandchildren, Addison Colineri, Ava Colineri, Maverick Hall and Preston Hall.
If you were fortunate enough be a part of Fran’s family or her circle of friends, you know how much she adored and loved everyone. Fran was definitely one of a kind - the core of her family and we will miss her dearly. She will forever be in our hearts and in our minds because Fran has left a piece of her spirit and her heart with all of us, and she will never be forgotten.
To send flowers to the family, please visit our floral store.