Stephen E. Cieslewicz

| 03 Jan 2019 | 01:17

Stephen E. Cieslewicz of Montgomery, a lifelong area resident, died Saturday, Dec. 29, 2018, at Schervier Pavilion in Warwick. He was 94.
He was the son of Polish immigrants, Julia Szmczak Cieslewicz and John Cieslewicz Sr. who came to this country in 1915 and established a small dairy farm on Kings Road outside of Bullville. It was here that Steve was born on Aug. 25, 1924.
As a child he walked with his brothers and sisters through their family's fields to attend a one-room schoolhouse on Lybolt Road.
Later, he obtained his education through the second years of high school at the Montgomery School.
In 1951 he went to work at the Weld-Cox Feed Store in Bullville, until 1963 when he took a job at the Orange County Highway Department in Goshen where he worked as a truck driver for 24 years until his retirement.
Steve was very proud of his Polish heritage and loved listening to his collection of polka music. He also enjoyed playing his accordion for family and friends.
Steve was a great country music fan with Gene Autry being his favorite singer.
Steve was also a member of the Knights of Columbus in the first degree.
Steve was a member of the St. Mary's Roman Catholic Church in Montgomery.
He is survived by his sister Ann Dibble of Cadosia and several nieces and nephews.
He was predeceased by his wife Mary Kukys Bonczek Cieslewicz, his parents John and Julia, his Stepmother Kunegunda Olewski Cieslewicz, infant brother and sister Stanley and Mary, brother John and wife Doris, brother Ted and wife Mary, brother Joseph and wife Stacia, sister Lucy Bastek and husband John, sister Sophie Schoonmaker and husband George, brother-in-law Willard Dibble and niece Barbara Campbell.
There will be no visitation. A Mass of Christian burial will be held at St. Mary's Roman Catholic Church in Montgomery at a later date.
Arrangements are under the guidance of the T.S. Purta Funeral Home/
To send a condolence online please go to www.purtafuneralhome.com.