Josephine Debkowski

Mrs. Josephine Swierkowski Debkowski, 88, entered the arms of the Lord surrounded by His heavenly angels on Friday, May 31, 2024.

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, June 5th. from 4:00-8:00PM.  On Thursday, June 6th. 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 in Linden at 10:00AM.  The prayers of committal will precede Josephine’s entombment in the family crypt in St. Gertrude Cemetery in Colonia. 

Josephine, the daughter of the late Josephine Piotrowska Swierkowska and the late Michael Swierkowski was born in Wilno-Trocki, Litwa Poland.  She came to the United States in November of 1964, living in Monmouth Junction and Kendall Park before moving to Hillsborough six months ago.

Josephine was an assembly line worker for many years at the Frigidaire manufacturing plant in Edison, New Jersey before earning her well-deserved retirement in 1998.

She was a lady who knew how to make the most out of her life and each day was filled with activities that brought her personal joy.  Josephine had two green thumbs and she was a prolific gardener of both flowers and vegetables.  Aside from her own extensive garden, Josephine would create gardens in any home that her children lived in.  She loved to work with the soil to produce the bounty that Nature would fashion.  Her hands were also busy in the crafts of sewing, where Josephine was so adept that she could design her own clothing, and crocheting, where every family member was the recipient of beautifully crafted blankets that last for years.  Josephine was a fabulous cook and she loved to entertain for all the holidays, especially Christmas Eve.  Her culinary expertise extended to the making of pierogi’s and so many other traditional Polish foods that her dining room table was always overflowing with enough food to feed twice as many guests as were present.  Her dishes were so delicious that no one ever turned away her offer to take a bit of leftovers home with them.  True to her artistic nature, Josephine loved music and especially dancing.  If you were ever lucky enough to watch her husband, Jeremi, dance with Josephine, they looked like they were gliding on air.  It was beautiful & breathtaking at the same time!  Josephine was always by her husband’s side – like two peas in a pod.  They have traveled extensively throughout the United States, Canada & Europe.  Their experiences included many cruises, and their car trips became adventurous excursions with their own sense of direction.  They would travel wherever the road would take them.  Throughout her adult life, Josephine was a very elegant lady, who loved to dress well accentuated with her jewelry and have her hair and nails done to perfection.  Josephine took immense pride in her appearance, and she would never even think of leaving the house, unless she was suitably dressed & coifed.  A hard worker and a dedicated wife & mother, Josephine lived an extraordinary life with her husband, Jeremi – a life that many could only dream of having. Yet even with all of this, the greatest joy in her life came from doing anything with her family, taking care of them and spending time with them.  Truthfully, it didn’t matter if they were having a big celebration or a simple afternoon in the garden.  Josephine knew what the true meaning of “family” was, and she took great care to make sure that her family was forever surrounded with her love.  They were her life!

Josephine is survived by her husband of sixty-four years, Jeremi Debkowski; her son, Andrew J. Debkowski and his wife, Gezime; her daughter, Lisa M. Rivera and her partner, Jeffrey Yauch; her seven grandchildren Joshua Debkowski, Sarah Debkowski, Jeremi Rivera, Ryan Rivera and his partner, Ellie, Kimbery Rivera, Esma Klobucista and Isa Klobucista; her great granddaughter, Evangeline Rivera and her many neighbors and friends, 

Josephine was the bright, shining, guiding light of her family that has now been dimmed.  Their hearts are broken, as tears fill their eyes, and they have an emptiness within them that is beyond explanation.  Please keep Josephine and her family in your prayers and rest assured that Josephine will be deeply missed, but she will never be forgotten. 

To send flowers to the family or plant a tree in memory of Josephine Debkowski, please visit our floral store.