WILBRAHAM – Evelyn E. (Gardzienski) Lak, 79, of the Gardens of Wilbraham was Called Safely Home on Wednesday, April 11, 2012. She passed into Eternal Life at Mercy Medical Center in Springfield surrounded by the care and comfort of her loving family and her wonderful caregivers. She was born at home in Chicopee on May 14, 1932, a beloved daughter of the late Aniela “Nellie” (Novak) Gardzienski and Walter Gardzienski. At a young age, her parents moved to Springfield where she graduated from the High School of Commerce. She lived in Springfield for many years before moving to the Gardens of Wilbraham in 2009. Her work career spanned many years, she worked as a waitress at the former Lido Restaurant in Springfield; and as a seamstress in Ludlow; as well as having her own cake decorating and catering service. She was last employed as the Executive Chef for the Diocese of Springfield at the Chancery for Bishop Joseph F. Maguire, the late Bishop John Marshall and Bishop Thomas Dupre. Active in her faith, she was a faithful communicant of Our Lady of the Rosary Church in Springfield. She volunteered for numerous committees at the church and also served her parish as a Pastoral Minister, Eucharistic Minister, Lector, and as a member of the Parish Council and a member of Our Lady of the Rosary Sodality. She was a member of: the Polish Women’s Alliance, the Kosciuszko Alliance at the College of Our Lady of the Elms, the Board of the Fine Arts Museum in Springfield, the Polonia Club, the Daughters of Isabella, the VFW Ladies Auxiliary Post 3236, the Polish American Veterans Ladies Auxiliary of Wilbraham, the Polish Women’s Alliance of America Council 28, the Wilbraham Garden Club, the Red Hats of Wilbraham and the Saint Cecilia Catholic Women’s Club in Wilbraham. She was a longtime volunteer for Hospice, the Red Cross, a volunteer cook at Stage West and a volunteer at the Longmeadow Senior Center. Besides her parents, she was predeceased by her beloved husband and best friend, Henry J. Lak, who was Called Home on October 31, 1996; her loving daughter, Patricia A. Lak, who was Called Home on September 12, 1975; her dear son-in-law, David B. Piquette, who was Called Home on November 14, 2005; her dear brothers, Henry and Edmund Garde, and Rudy and Irwin Gardzienski; and her dear sister, Wanda Smutek. She leaves: her devoted children, Thomas S. Lak and his life partner, Dawn Johnson, of Montgomery, MA and Susan Marie Lak of Springfield and her companion, Kevin Fetridge, of Enfield, CT; her two cherished grandchildren whom she adored, Sarah Lak and her companion, Matt, of Longmeadow and Kaitlyn Lak of Belchertown; her dear sisters-in-law, Victoria Gardzienski, of Ludlow, Amelia Haryasz of Indian Orchard and Bertha Lak of Springfield; her brother-in-law, Ted Lak of Indian Orchard; and her many dear nephews and nieces. Her funeral will be held on Wednesday morning, April 18, 2012 beginning at the St. Pierre – Phaneuf Springfield Chapels (413-737-1177), 7 Chapin Terrace, Springfield, MA 01107 (funeral home will open at 9:30 a.m.), followed by a Mass of Christian Burial at 11 a.m. in Our Lady of the Rosary Church, 346 Franklin Street, Springfield, MA 01104. Her burial will follow the Mass at Saint Stanislaus Cemetery, 800 Montgomery Street, Chicopee, MA 01013. Her family will receive friends at the funeral home in the Chapin Chapel on Tuesday, April 17, 2012 from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m. Her family has requested that memorial donations be made in her memory to the Lupa Zoo, 62 Nash Hill Road, Ludlow, MA 01056, www.lupazoo.org. For our online obituary and guest book, please visit www.stpierrephaneuf.com