Joseph A. Wawrzak

Joseph A. Wawrzak passed away peacefully at Nazareth Hospital, Philadelphia, in the Vitas Hospice suite on August 29, 2024 at the age of 94.  Born on August 18, 1930, Joseph was the beloved son of Albert and Agatha (Mazur) Wawrzak and beloved brother of his sister Blanche.

After graduating from North East Catholic High School, he served in the US Army in the Korean War.

Afterwards, Joseph went into business with a friend and established a hardware store business in 3 locations. Because of his hard work and success, he was able to afford a nurse’s aide, for 8 hrs. daily for twelve years. for his mother who was bedridden. He retired to take care of his loving sister, Blanche when she became ill for several years.

Although Joe never married he was a family man who developed a lifelong relationship with his cousins and was godfather to two: John Wawrzak and Michael Pirnot.

Some lessons his cousins learned from Joe:

Family and home are most important supported by daily prayer.

Be positive about life and people every day.

Live in the present rather than dwell on the past.

Enjoy the simple pleasures of life like meals and conversation.

Focus on others not yourself. Joe asked the best questions.

Reaching out to people every day is essential.

Joe cherished his relationship and visits with all his cousins and their families. He especially appreciated daily calls when he was homebound from cousin John and Ann with other cousins calling when they couldn’t. He was a generous gift giver.

Joe will be missed by cousin John Wawrzak, wife, Kimberly, daughters, Laura and husband, Ben Borkowski and Kelli and husband Matthew Durkin, cousin Ann Wawrzak Pirnot, husband, Tom, son, Matthew Pirnot and wife Dani R. Smith and sons, Christian and Caleb, son, Anthony V. Pirnot and wife Menaka Nayyar and son, Nico, daughter Joanna Eichenwald and husband, Dan, children Ben, Noah and Anna, and son, Michael and wife, Paulina Reso, and sons Henryk and Jack.

Special thanks to Holy Redeemer-Support at Home for their loving and faithful service enabling Joe to remain in his home for 5 yrs. and his favorite aides, April and Madina. Thanks to Vitas-Hospice at Nazareth Hospital for their compassionate care in an atmosphere of peace and quiet.

The viewing will take place at St. Titus Church, 3006 Keenwood Rd. Norristown, PA 19403 10:00-10:45 a.m. on Friday September 6, 2024.  Followed by the Mass of Christian Burial at 11 a.m. Burial will be at Holy Sepulchre Cemetery 3301 W. Cheltenham Ave, Philadelphia.