Rosemary Katherine Blabac, 89, was born in Schenectady, New York in 1929 to Mary Pavlak. Her father died when she was an infant. Rosemary spent her early years living with her Mother and her Aunt Agnes and Uncle John Sladick in the Binghamton area. Her mother married John Palinsky Sr. a widower, in 1935 at St. Cyril and Method RC Church in Binghamton. Mom became the little sister to her adopted siblings John Jr. (Peggy), Mary, Joseph (Nelly) and closest sister and friend, Jane (Frank). Mom remained in this same home for the remainder of her life. Mom graduated from Binghamton North High School from the secretarial curriculum and worked for Attorney Carl Gitliz whom she always greatly respected. She married Stephen Blabac, Sr. when he returned from the Second Word War having fought in New Guinea. Steve was the brother of Mom’s brother John’s wife Peggy.
After Mom’s first child was born, Stephen, Jr. (Ede), Mom became a 1950’s stay at home Mom.. Stephen was followed by Carolyn (Joe) and Robert (Sherry). Mom was a wonderful confidant, homemaker, and friend to all her many brothers and sisters and their families as my Dad came from a family of 13. As all these families were having children during our own baby boom, hardly a year went by without a Christening party and large family picnics. It was a great time to be a child and part of such a large family.
As her own family grew up, Mom returned to the workforce, ultimately working her way up to an examiner position in the Broome County Social Services Medicaid Nursing Home Department. She loved her job. She spent over two decades there and made many very close friends who continued to lunch together to this very summer.
Mom lost many friends and family over the last few decades including her parents, her husband Steve, and many in her family and her husband’s family. She is survived by her children , Steve Jr. (Ede), Carolyn (Joe Wells) and Bob (Sherry), her grandchildren, Sarah Blabac, Ede Sutton (Nate), Stephen III (Erin), and Kristen Boock (Jason), Jeremy Blabac and Jennifer Blabac (Joe Lewis). Mom was especially proud of her great-grandchildren, Jayna Blabac and Charles Francis Sutton. She is also survived by her brother in law George Blabac (Dolly), and her sister in law Lorraine Blabac. Nephews and nieces and their children, almost too many to count, also survive. Dennis and Emily Blabac were especially dear to her were always available to help. Frank Giananella a neighbor and her sister’s son also helped. Rosanne and Don, though they lived in Arizona always kept in touch.
Mom loved her family, her friends, and her God. She was a faithful member of St. Francis of Assisi Church in Hillcrest for most of her life. Mom had a strong, quiet faith that always informed everything she did. She was a person who truly enjoyed and lived life to the fullest.
The Blabac family especially thanks all the wonderful staff at Lourdes Hospital, especially in the ER, the ICU and the staff on Seton 3. Also the kind Rehab staff at Good Shepherd Fairview and the staff at Bridgewater Nursing Home in their Rehab. Department for their thoughtfulness and kindness at the time of her death.
The family invites all to visit and tell stories about Mom at the Wm. R. Chase & Son Funeral Home, 737 Chenango Street, Port Dickinson on Tuesday afternoon from 4-6pm. A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at St. Francis of Assisi Church on Wednesday at 10 am. Mom will be buried next to Dad at Calvary Cemetery in Johnson City. The family requests any wishing to make donations in Mom’s name to do so to the Broome County CHOW program as one of Mom’s greatest pleasures was feeding hungry people.
SHARE OBITUARY
v.1.8.18