Submitted by: Mary Jo Koran

Joan E. Bukowski

April 13, 1921 - July 21, 1998

Joan E. Bukowski, 77, of North Johnson Street, South Bend, Ind., died at 12:05 p.m. on Tuesday, July 21, at Regency Place.

Mrs. Bukowski was born on April 13, 1921, in South Bend, to Kalman and Mari (Nemeth) Varga, and was a lifetime area resident. She was preceded in death by her parents and by a sister, Anna Dupy.

On Aug. 3, 1946, in South Bend, as Joan E. Varga, she married Walter J. Bukowski, who survives.

She is also survived by three sons, Walter J. (Michele) Bukowski, Jr., William C. (Vicki) Bukowski and Michael J. Bukowski, all of South Bend; seven grandchildren, William M., Heather M., Mary E., Rebecca L., Rachel M., and Daniel Z. Bukowski, and Shannon Kuhn; one great-grandson, James M. Kuhn; and by a sister, Mary Varga of South Bend.

Mrs. Bukowski, or ''Mrs. B'' as she was known, retired from Memorial Hospital in 1986 as Director of Health Services, and had also served as assistant director of nursing.

She was a member of Holy Cross Catholic Church; ZB Falcons Nests 80 and 185, from which she received the Bronze Legion of Honor and had been past vice-president of Nest 185; Falcon Bowling League; and she had served on the Polish Falcons of America 6th District Ladies Commission; and was a volunteer for the Special Olympics.

Mrs. Bukowski was a graduate of Washington High School and the Epworth Memorial School of Nursing.

A funeral Mass will be conducted at 10 a.m. on Friday at Holy Cross Catholic Church, with Rev. Joseph Larey, C.S.C, officiating. Entombment will follow at Riverview Cemetery.

Friends may call from 2 to 8 p.m. today in the Welsheimer Funeral Home, 521 N. William Street, where a parish Rosary will be held at 6 p.m., followed by a Falcon Legion of Honor service.

Memorial contributions may be made to the St. Joseph County Humane Society or to Pet Refuge.