Lawrence Milosek

Larry passed peacefully in his sleep in his 86th year. He leaves his wife Carol (Cook), children, Susan Witczak, Karen Anderson (Rob), Stephen Milosek (Kristin); grandchildren, Steven (Kim), Pete (Grace), Victoria (Vearl), Christopher (Elle), Katie, Kyle (Ashley), Emmaline, and four great grandchildren Ally, Steve, Andy and Miller. He was predeceased by his granddaughter Alexis Schulz.

Born in Port Richmond, Philadelphia, PA, a predominantly Polish neighborhood, to Anthony Bruce Milosek and Bertine (Glowacz), he grew up surrounded by aunts, uncles, and cousins who all lived nearby. Larry graduated from Mastbaum High School (1958) where he learned the carpentry trade. (Years later he gifted his grandson the electric guitar he handcrafted in high school that year that earned him first prize!) Carol and Larry met at work where he would pick her up on his motorcycle. They married in June 1962 and were married for 64 years.

Their first home was in Juniata Park where they lived for over 50 years. He loved sitting on the porch listening to his beloved Phillies and chatting with the neighbors who passed by. Dad was also an avid Eagles fan and was never without his signature Eagles hat. He was self-employed as a general contractor, first meeting his buddies every morning at McDonald’s for breakfast and discussing the latest news. He proudly boasted that he was so good he started early and could end at 2 pm! Larry will always be remembered for his gentle good nature and his great sense of humor.

A car and truck enthusiast, he attended many car shows, but he loved boats. He bought his first boat for the family to enjoy in 1976. It was a 21-ft cabin cruiser called the “Carol M.” The family would boat on the Delaware River and have picnics on the beach every weekend. There would be barbecues with cousins and friends, and always a game of horseshoes. There were also “big trips” from Philadelphia to the Chesapeake Bay with all the “Polish” cousins, which were always a good time with softball games and freshly caught Maryland crab boils. The cousin tradition also extended to Christmas Eve. Each year the family observed the traditional Polish supper of Wigilia with aunts, uncles and cousins, followed by a Philadelphia tradition widely loved by the family, The Mummer’s Parade on New Year’s Day. Larry’s cousins were all in the Polish American String Band and we cheered for them every year on Broad Street and celebrated later.

With the kids grown, Carol and Larry often took solo boat trips to Annapolis and Chesapeake City where they would meet up with their daughter’s family; they also went to Maine every year to see the leaves turn. No surprise, they enjoyed cruises and celebrated their anniversary in Cancun, Mexico.

But their greatest joy was kids and grandkids. Oh, did Larry love those babies! The grandkids would visit them in Juniata and experience city block parties when someone would open the fire plug on hot days to cool off! His birthday, being the start of Spring, was always a perfect time to celebrate both dad and the season which we did just a few weeks ago. There he met and held his newest great-grandchild!

A funeral service will be held at the Chapel at the Pastoral Center of the Church of the Resurrection, 3175 Paulskirk Drive, Ellicott City, MD 21042 on Friday, May 1st at 11 a.m. Family will greet beginning at 10 a.m. Inurnment immediately following at Crest Lawn Memorial Gardens, 2150 Mt. View Road, Marriottsville, MD 21104. Please join us at a Memorial Luncheon for Larry at Oscar’s Alehouse, 10795 Birmingham Way, Woodstock, MD 21104.