Stella (Chekanski) Waraksa, 90, of West Bridgewater died peacefully on Thursday, December 30th surrounded by her family at the Good Samaritan Medical Center in Brockton. She was the devoted wife of the late Francis A. Waraska. She was born in Elizabeth, New Jersey and was raised in Pennsylvania. In 1938 she married Francis A. Waraksa, they made their home and raised their family in Shamokin, PA where Stella proudly worked in the garment industry for 40 years. For the past 25 years, after the death of her husband, Stella has lived with her daughter and son-in-law, Dr. and Mrs. J. Edward Carchidi, in both Whitman and West Bridgewater. Stella enjoyed summers on Cape Cod, especially looking forward to seeing her roses in bloom. She was a proud Polish-American and loved to cook her family’s favorite ethnic meals. She was an avid reader and collector of antiques. Her happiest moments were when she spent time with her family who lovingly knew her as “Busha”.
She is survived by her three children Francis “Bud” Waraksa and wife Elanor Waraksa of New Castle, DE, Barbara (Waraksa) Carchidi and husband J. Edward Carchidi of West Bridgewater, and Richard Waraksa and wife Bonnie of Cheshire, CT. She was the sister of Helen Skill of NJ, Mildred DeClemente of Bourne and Janette Marino of PA and pre-deceased by three brothers, Joseph Chekanski, Edward Chekanski, and Francis Chekanski. She is also survived by her five grandchildren, Christopher Carchidi and his wife Tanya, Craig Carchidi and his wife Kimberly, Nina (Carchidi) Martin and her husband Todd Martin, Amy Waraksa, and Thomas Waraksa and five great grandchildren.
Her family is grateful to her physician, Dr. Edward Freccero, MD and the entire staff of level 3A at the Caritas Good Samaritan Hospital in Brockton for their outstanding professional care.
A Memorial Service will be held Saturday, January 15, 2011 in the Farley Funeral Home, 358 Park St., (Rte. 27) Stoughton at 10 AM. A Visiting Hour will be held prior to the service from 9-10 AM. Donations in Stella’s memory of Stella Waraska may be made to Brockton ARC, 1250 West Chestnut Street; Brockton, MA 02301 or to Caritas Hospice 3 Edgewater Drive, Norwood, MA 02062.