Submitted by: Dan Rich

Eleanor Kopczynski

Nov. 23, 1910 - March 31, 2002

South Bend Tribune 4/3/2002

Eleanor Kopczynski, our beloved Mother has left us orphans. Born on November 23, 1910, she passed to her eternal rest on Easter Sunday, March 31, 2002. Although she resided at her Phillipa Street home for over fifty years, she died at St. Joseph Care Center. Eleanor was the eldest of seven children born to Sophie (Czerwinski) and Vincent Kaminiski. Her sisters and brothers, Martha, Eugene, Rita, Leonard, Gordon preceded her in death. She is survived by her youngest sister, Bernadine (Leon) Szymanowski.

On December 30, 1941, she married Frank Kopczynski, who left her a widow in 1968. She is survived by her two children, Frank (Mary Jo) of Seminole, Florida, and Rita of South Bend; her granddaughter, Julia (Todd) Harris of Winston-Salem, North Carolina; and two great-grandchildren, Zachary and Haley. She is also survived by her sister-in-law, Mary June (Eugene) Kaminski Santa Ana, California; and a dozen nieces and nephews.

Eleanor, like so many women of the Polish community, was known to many as "Busia." Her faith, wisdom, and commitment to the poor and oppressed where vigorously supported in prayer and lively conversations. Many days of the last decade of her life were spent in prayer for those she held close to her heart as well as for the anonymous poor. Her work career, as for many of her time, took precedence over formal education. As the eldest child, she assisted in the financial care of her family. Eleanor held a number of domestic positions from her preteen years to her "College" days on the floor of the Bendix Corporation. She was a "stay-at-home" mom who after the death of her husband returned to the work force, first as a maid in the dormitories at the University of Notre Dame and then at the rectory of Saint Patrick's Church, retiring in her 80th year. In the last few years of her life she enjoyed the company of new friends in the ceramic class at Forever Learning Institute. Eleanor was called an "awesome" woman by one of her younger admirers. Others called her a "tough old bird." She was all these, but above all a loving and caring parent and grandparent. Her strength and faith united her family and friends and was an inspiration. She will be dearly missed and carried in the hearts of those who love her.

A wake will take place at the St. Joseph Funeral Home (Mayflower and Sample) on Thursday, April 4th, 4:00 to 8:00 p.m. with a wake service at 7:30 p.m. A Mass of the Resurrection will be held at St. Adalbert Church on Friday at 10:00 a.m. Friends and relations will meet at the church prior to the service. Although Eleanor loved flowers she wished that in lieu of such honors memorial donations would be made to the Saint Adalbert School fund or the Saint Vincent de Paul Society.