Irene Helen Seborowski

It is with a very heavy heart that we share the sad news that we lost our beloved Mother, Grandmother, and Great-grandmother Irene Helen Seborowski, on November 23, 2023 at the age of 99.

Born in Nisko, Poland, on July 3, 1924, to Maria and Walerian Luka, Irene immigrated to the United States with her mother and brother Edward, on July 4, 1938. They joined her father, who had previously established himself as a resident in the country. She graduated from Rutgers School of Pharmacy in 1946, and after an internship, became a registered pharmacist in 1948. Five years later, she opened her business, Garfield Pharmacy. Wishing to spend every day working by her side, her husband Joseph gave up his profession as an accountant shortly after their marriage and returned to university for another four years to become a pharmacist himself. Aside from their work, they loved to travel, had regular box seats at Carnegie Hall, were so graceful on the dance floor, and were very supportive of Polish causes through the Kosciuszko Foundation. They were a devoted, loving couple, who were rarely apart until his death in 1998.

Irene was a proud American who valued the freedoms and opportunities in her new country and was also extremely proud of her Polish heritage. She instilled in her daughters and grandchildren her love of Polish traditions, language, arts, and food. She ensured that we know and love our family in Poland as much as our family here. She was a caring Mother and Babci and loved us unconditionally. Her passions included art and art history, reading, music, cooking, needlepoint, NYC, travel, and discussing current events, even in recent years.

We have such deep sorrow but rejoice that she graced our lives for so long. She is now reunited with her husband, parents, brother, sister Janina, and the many wonderful family members and friends who left before her. She is survived by her daughters Nina Seborowski, M.D. and Alina Andersen; son-in-law Victor Abdow, M.D.; grandchildren Sabina and Peter Abdow, Chris (Anna) and Johan (Megan) Andersen; great-grandchildren Johan and Abby; sisters-in-law Mania Kuduk and Irene Luka; nephews Stephen Kuduk, Jeffrey Kuduk, Richard Luka, M.D., and Kenneth Seborowski; and niece Diana Luka Hopkins. In lieu of flowers, please send a donation to the Kosciuszko Foundation, 15 E. 65th St., New York, NY 10065.

A viewing is scheduled for Sunday, December 10, 4-6 pm at Gawler's Funeral Home in the Eisenhower Room, located at 5130 Wisconsin Ave, NW in Washington, DC. A Catholic funeral mass will be held on Monday, December 11, 11 am at Blessed Sacrament Church, located at 3630 Quesada Street, NW in Washington, DC.