Bessie Kowalski

Devoted to family and friends, loved to dance

Bessie "Betty" Kowalski, born July 3, 1913, passed away in her home on March 28, 2018, at 104 years old.

Born and raised in Stapleton with her late sister, Alice Nafis, Betty worked in Manhattan for the Metropolitan Life Insurance Company. She moved to West Brighton after marrying her late husband of 53 years, John Kowalski.

After raising her two children she returned to work as an information operator for New York Telephone Company, and was an active member of the Pioneers.

She worked side by side with her husband, helping him with his duties as the treasurer of NARFE for 25 years. She organized their annual Christmas party at the Staaten, attended their conventions and set up for their monthly meetings.

Betty was a devoted volunteer at the Staten Island University gift shop, where she manned the counter and stocked the shelves for over 25 years until her "retirement" at age 95. She then had free time to hop on a plane to visit her great-grandchildren in Ft. Lauderdale.

Betty lived life to its fullest She loved to dance. People on the dance floor would disperse as she and John would do the Peabody or the polka.

No one was more devoted to family and friends. One could always count on her for her help!

GG, as she was known by half of Staten Island, always enjoyed going to her grandchildren's and great-grandchildren's sporting events, recitals and plays.

She is survived by two children, Bill Kowalski of Woodbridge, N.J., and Jane DiFortuna of Randall Manor, and their spouses, Tracy Kowalski and Robert DiFortuna; six grandchildren, Dawn Aponte, Karen Hayes, Brian Kowalski, Jenny Kowalski-Kunkle, Robert DiFortuna, John Kowalski; and 15 great-grandchildren, Matt, Madison, Caroline, Thomas Aponte, Patrick, Ryan, Timmy, Abby Hayes, Reid, GraceWendy, Robert John, Sophia Jane DiFortuna, Jake, Dylan Kowalski, and Grace Kunkle.

She is also survived by her loving sisters-in-law, 100-year-old Mary Kowalski and 98-year-old Rose Laub, and many nieces and nephews.

In lieu of flowers, donations to St. Jude Children's Research Hospital 0r Shriners Hospital for Children would be appreciated.

Viewing is Monday, April 2, from 7 to 9 p.m., and Tuesday from 2 to 4 and 7 to 9 p.m., at Harmon Funeral Home.

Funeral is from Harmon on Wednesday, with a 10 a.m. service at Trinity Lutheran Church, 309 St. Paul's Ave., Staten Island, N.Y. 10304.