Harriet Geneva Kowalzyk

She was born in Mexico, Maine on May 20, 1915, the daughter of Calixte and Julienne Cormier of Mexico, Maine and was educated in Rumford schools, graduating from Stephens High school in 1932

A devoted mother of five children whom she raised after the early death of her husband, Henry Kowalzyk in 1956, Harriet was a well known Rumford citizen. She worked on Congress Street for thirty years at Bartash Stationary.

A communicant of Parish of the Holy Savior, Mrs. Kowalzyk is remembered for her civic involvement, including Rumford Senior Citizens, St. John’s Guild past president, American Legion Auxilliary, and the Community Hospital Auxilliary.

Surviving are her three daughters, Julienne Mullen and husband Richard of Scarborough, Marilyn Desroches and husband Donald of Newark, Delaware, and Nancy Giordano and husband Vincent of Hopewell, Virginia; her son Charles, her long time caregiver, of Rumford; son-in-law Bruce Turgeon, of Scarborough; grandchildren, Christopher Turgeon and wife Stephanie of Augusta, Kirk Turgeon and wife Jennifer of Brunswick, Jennifer Nevela and husband Tom of Granger, Indiana, Andrew Mullen and wife Heather of Portland, Patrick Mullen of Scarborough, Thaddeus Mullen and wife Tiffany of South Portland, Christine Ruoff and husband Mitchell of Wilmington, Delaware, Maria Robinson and husband Dean of Anchorage, Alaska, Peter Desroches and wife Caroline, Laurie Simpson and husband William of Velrico, Florida, and Jeff Giroux of Mechanicsville, Virginia.

Harriet was also blessed with twenty great-grandchildren.

She was predeceased by her parents, her eldest daughter Frances Turgeon of Brunswick, three sisters, Agnes, Anna and Leah Cormier all of Rumford, and a great grandson Peter Julian Desroches of Delaware.

The family has been strengthened for years by Harriet’s generous and cheerful nature. They extend their appreciation to Androscoggin Home Care and Hospice for providing comforting care, as well as caregivers, Martha Violette and Pauline Frazel.