Chester Olszewski Sr. of Darien Center, NY passed away peacefully Saturday morning October 9th 2021 in his home from end stage Alzheimer’s disease.
Chet was born as the third son of Polish immigrant parents who lived on the East side of Buffalo on a side street off of Broadway in a predominantly Polish immigrant neighborhood. He learned to speak and read Polish as a youngster and remained fluent in Polish to his last day even when dealing with Alzheimer’s.
While Chet was still very young, his father Stanley purchased a 101 acre working farm in Bennington, NY and moved the family there. Growing up, Chet learned the skills
of dairy farming and crop farming as well as the million and one other skills that every farmer in the 1930’s, 1940’s and beyond had to learn as part of farm life at that time.
Chet also worked at the Massey Harris manufacturing plant on Harvester Avenue in Batavia. He served his country overseas in the Army during the Korean War and became an active member of VFW Post 6239 in Alexander, NY and American Legion Post 734 in Attica, NY thereafter. He worked for Ernst Steel in Buffalo. Chet last worked for Graham Corporation in Batavia as a welder and retired from there in 1995 always praising what a great company it was to work for.
Upon reaching his mid to late 80’s Chet’s health began declining at a noticeable pace to the point of needing assistance with the day-to-day activities of life. His family assisted him in hiring personal care aides to take care of him at home 24/7 so he could avoid moving to a nursing facility. He remained living at his home till his final day.
Chet was very grateful for the excellent medical care he received from Dr. Sarah Thompson and other staff at the Batavia VA medical center as well as the team of specialists working at the Home Based Primary Care at the Batavia VA.
Chet was the beloved husband of the late Carol Olszewski; dear father of Laurie (Andy) Flambouras, William Heintzelman, Henry (Tina), Stanley (Tricia), Chet (Kelly) and Thad (Kathy) Olszewski; loving grandfather of Maxwell and Lauren Olszewski; brother of Walter (late Beverly), Joseph (Patricia), Stephania (Noel) Senecal, Sabina (Jim) Burnett and the late Lillian Tursi, Stanley (Delores) Olszewski, Frank “Peewee” Olszewski and Edwin Tabaczynski.
Family will be present at the Charles Meyer Funeral Home, 13228 Broadway Alden, NY Thursday 2-4 and 6-8 pm. A Mass of Christian Burial will be held at Sacred Heart Church, Bennington, NY Friday at 10 AM (please assemble at church). In lieu of flowers memorials may be made to Genesee County Hospice or the Alzheimer's Association. Share your condolences at meyerfuneralhome.com
