Estella Kowalik
Estella M. Kowalik, a longtime resident of Rt. 28, Otter Lake, widow of Joseph B. Kowalik and proprietor of Kowalik’s Hotel & Restaurant, Rt. 28, Otter Lake, passed away while surrounded by the loving care of her family on Tuesday, July 28, 2015.
She was born on June 30, 1927, at the Paluck family homestead farm on Crofoot Hill Road, near Constableville, a daughter of Anthony and Mary Kolasoe Paluck.
Estella attended a rural school, completing her education at Constableville Central School.
On June 14, 1947, Estella was united in marriage with Joseph B. Kowalik at St. Joseph’s Church, Boonville.
After their marriage the couple lived in Boonville, moving to Otter Lake in 1950, purchasing the former Green’s Hotel on Rt. 28, which they operated as Kowalik’s Hotel and Restaurant until Mr. Kowalik passed away on April 27, 1962.
Thereafter, Mrs. Kowalik continued the operation of the hotel and restaurant for over 50 years, until her retirement.
Mrs. Kowalik was a member of St. Mary of the Snows Catholic Church of Otter Lake where she served for many years as a Eucharistic Minister, trustee of the church, a member of the parish council and she was a member of St. Mary’s Saint Christopher’s Society.
Estella was a fabulous cook and made sure that everyone always had plenty to eat. She greatly enjoyed raising flowers.
She was a generous person who always had an open door for others and had a great love for her family.
She is survived by two daughters and sons-in-law, Mary Ann (Paul) Rubyor, Woodgate, NY; Jean Marie (Willie) Van Valkenburg, Otter Lake, NY; five grandchildren, Michael (PJ) Rubyor, Alpharetta, GA; Sheryl (Chad) Hutton, Boonville, NY; Holly (Rick) Armendola, Thendara, NY; Erik Rubyor, Woodgate, NY; Joseph Van Valkenburg, Old Forge, NY; five great grandchildren, Justin Rubyor, Jack Hutton, Caitlyn Armendola, Troy Hutton and Autumn Armendola; one brother, Isadore (Lillian) Paluck, Constableville; four sisters-in-law, Sophia (Al) Rosinski, Helen Garbarino, and Mary Kowalik and Mary Paluck; and several nieces and nephews.
She was predeceased by three sisters, Tillie Czajka, Rose Karpinski, and Helen Wood, and by two brothers, Joseph and Edward Paluck.
Her Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated on Saturday, August 1 at 11 a.m. at St. Mary of the Snows Church, Otter Lake, with interment in St. Joseph’s Cemetery, Boonville. Visitation hours are Friday, July 31 from 4 to 8 p.m. at Trainor Funeral Home, Inc. 143 Schuyler St. Boonville.
Family and friends are invited to attend a reception at 1 p.m.. on Saturday at the Otter Lake Fire Hall. Memorial contributions may be made to St. Mary of the Snows Church Rt. 28, Otter Lake 13338, or to the Otter Lake Fire Department, Rt. 28, Otter Lake, NY 13338.
For an on-line message of sympathy or to share a memory of Estella, please go to www.trainorfuneralhome.com
