Regina H. (Bylinski) Wolanin, 91, of Worcester, MA, passed away on Sunday, February 18, 2018, surrounded by her loving family, after a brief hospitalization at UMass Memorial Hospital in Worcester. Her husband, John S. Wolanin, predeceased her in January of 1996. She is survived by her sons; Stanley J. “Lee” Wolanin and his wife Cindy of Barre MA, Ronald E. Wolanin and his wife Celeste of Oakham MA, and Kenneth M. Wolanin and his wife Ana of New Braintree MA; and three grandchildren: Andrea Wolanin, Tyler Wolanin and Cooper Wolanin. She was predeceased by her brother, Henry Bylinski. She was born in Webster on, a daughter of John and Josephine (Sadkowska) Bylinski.
Mrs. Wolanin was a graduate of Commerce High School in Worcester. She worked as a secretary at Heald Machinery in Worcester through WW II until her marriage to Johnny in 1948. She began teaching kindergarten in 1963 at St. Mary’s Elementary School in Worcester. She taught over 50 students a year without any teacher’s aides or volunteers, a one-woman show. She also taught first and third grades at St. Mary’s.
She took a break from teaching for a few years, but returned in that role to teach sewing classes at the Worcester Girls’ Club on Providence Street in the mid-1980s. She continued to teach there for two decades. During this time and into the early 1990s she also took on the role as a Polish interpreter for hospitals and industry in the Worcester area. Around 2005 she started a sewing program for elementary students at St. Mary’s School and also began teaching there in the after-school program. She continued teaching sewing at St. Mary’s on a part time basis until she was 85.
Regina was a wife, mother, grandmother, teacher, gardener and world traveler. In her ‘spare’ time she sewed, cooked, crocheted awesome quilts, read as many newspapers, magazines and books as time allowed, devoured crossword puzzles and volunteered at a number of her community organizations. She was a lifelong learner in the true sense of that phrase and was always ready for a road trip, to any destination. She truly believed in the phrase written by Kurt Vonnegut in his book Cat’s Cradle… “Peculiar travel suggestions are dancing lessons from God.”
With her husband, John, she traveled to Europe on a number of occasions, cruised to Bermuda, and visited a number of states west of the Mississippi. For years, every summer, Regina and John traveled with their young children through different parts of New England or Canada. Regina did not slow down upon her husband’s passing. Over the years she travelled to Poland on a number of occasions (her final trip at age 88) also Germany, Greece, Hawaii, Tahiti, and other countries.
Mrs. Wolanin belonged to a number of organizations to include; The Polish Falcons of America, The White Eagle Association, the Polish American Veterans of WWII Women’s Auxiliary, Our Lady of Czestochowa Guild, The Associates of the Holy Family of Nazareth, the Cool Sandy Beach Campers Association, and Our Lady of Czestochowa of Worcester parish.
Her greatest joy in her later years was spending time with her three grandchildren, and they enjoyed spending time with their Babci. Great times were had learning to make kapusta in the autumn, chrusciki for Christmas, and coloring Easter eggs for Swienconka. They even had fun when Babci made them weed her extensive gardens. Her gardens were her second greatest joy which she lovingly tended to even as she hit her 90s. They surrounded her house and included fruit, berry, vegetable, flower and bush gardens, hanging vines, potted plants, and many varieties of roses. She never tired of the complements she received for her gardens and loved to share cuttings and harvests. Her roses were spectacular and greatly admired in the Vernon Hill section of Worcester, where she resided for the past 65 years.
The Memorial will be held on Saturday, February 24th, 2018 at HENRY-DIRSA FUNERAL HOME, 33 Ward St., with a Mass at 10:00 AM in Our Lady of Czestochowa Church, 34 Ward St. Calling hours in the funeral home will be on Friday, February 23, 2018 from 4:00 PM to 7:00 PM. In lieu of flowers, contributions can be made to The Sisters of the Holy Family of Nazareth located in Monroe Connecticut, or the St. Mary’s School Building Fund, 50 Richland St., Worcester, 01610.