Wanita Rainey Wawrzyniak

Wanita Rainey Wawrzyniak

Wanita Rainey Wawrzyniak, age 76, of Greene Township, died Wednesday, May 19, 2010 at her residence after an extended illness.

She was born September 28, 1933 in Belleview, PA. She attended Academy High School and in 1973 received her GED. She was a graduate of Gannon University Class of 1977; while attending Gannon she had a classical music program featured on WERG. She had worked for the FBI in Philadelphia for 15 years after returning to Erie she worked at Steris and then Spectrum Control. She was a member of Saint Boniface Church and sang in their choir and in Our Lady of Peace Church's choir. She was a member of Erie Cursillo and Koinonia Movement and the Beta Sigma Phi Social Society. She was a periwinkle on a float for the Erie Sesquicentennial Parade. She also volunteered for L'ARCHE and the American Cancer Society.

In addition to her parents she was preceded in death by her former husband, Harry Joseph Wawrzyniak and her sister, Florence Vereb.

She is survived by her five children, Elizabeth Olejarski and husband Joseph Olejarski Jr. of Greene Twp., Michelle Lack and husband John of Millcreek, Timothy Wawrzyniak and wife Teresa of Harborcreek, Pamela Wellnitz and husband Paul of Columbus, OH and Catherine "Kelly" Hinspeter and husband Andrew of Millcreek; eight grandchildren, Linda and Laura Lack, Noelle, PJ and Matthew Wellnitz, Sara Askounes, Heather Schumacher and AJ Hinspeter and two great-grandsons, Alex and Braedon.

Friends are invited to call at the John R. Orlando Funeral Home, Inc., 2122 Raspberry Street, on Sunday from 3 to 7 pm and may attend a Funeral Mass on Monday at Saint Boniface RC Church, 9367 Wattsburg Rd., at 10 am. Burial will be in Gate of Heaven Cemetery. Memorials may be made to Great Lakes Hospice, 1700 Peach Street, Erie, PA 16501 or to Saint Boniface Church, 9367 Wattsburg Rd., Erie, PA 16509.

The family would like to thank Wanita's caregiver, Karen and Sr. Colette, Sr. Sally, Veronica and the staff at Great Lakes Home Healthcare and Hospice for the wonderful support and compassion shown to their mother.