Lois Kisiel of Batavia passed away on Wednesday, July 14, 2010, two days before her 84th birthday, at her home surrounded by her loving family. She died from intestinal cancer, which was undetectable in spite of her regular tests and checkups.
Mrs. Kisiel was born Lois Ruth Quartley on July 16, 1926 in Oakfield. She was the daughter of the lae Harold Clayton Quartley, Sr. and the lae Marion (Tully) Quartley.
Lois graduated from Batavia High School in the Class of 1944. She began working at The New York Telephone Company as a local and long distance operator and as a Services Assistant. She always prided herself on being able to remember all the old telephone numbers of her family, friends and local businesses and would amaze people on her instant recall of them. She was working on the switchboard on two historic occasions, VE Day and VJ Day. When remembering those wartime days she said, "the board lit up like a Christmas tree!" Everyone was asked to work overtime to handle the flood of happy calls that would mark the end of the war and the return of the brave, young men and women who served in it. This would include her own future husband, Henry John Kisiel, who was in the Navy serving on the Aircraft Carrier USS Cape Esperance. She continued to work for The New York Telephone Company for 15 years and eventually left to devote her time to raising her three children.
Mrs. Kisiel's husband, Henry, has been in the die casting business for 68 years. In 1972, the family die casting business, Pinnacle Manufacturing Company, Inc. of Batavia, was founded. Mrs. Kisiel was a partner in the company and was working full-time up until Memorial Day of this year when she took ill. She ran the office operation of the business at 56 Harvester Avenue in the Industrial Center. She learned and mastered the computer programs in her late years, which she needed to automate the business. Every day she enjoyed coming to work and found great fulfillment in her roll as a small business owner and the daily challenges it presented to her.
Those who know her, and others who came in contact with her, may have noticed the unusual hoarseness when she spoke. Mrs. Kisiel suffered for years with a voice disorder known as "spasmodic dysphonia". These involuntary "spasms" of the vocal cords affect the quality of the voice and cause interruptions of speech.
Mrs. Kisiel took great pleasure in her family and has enjoyed a rich life full of blessings. She most loved her home, which was built for her by her husband in the country 54 years ago. She often visited her children and grandchildren who llive in various parts of the United States, but she was always most content when she returned to her beautiful home and her beloved town of Batavia where she lived her entire life.
Lois Ruth Kisiel is survived by her loving husband of 62 years, Henry John Kisiel. They were married in St. Mary's Church in Batavia on September 8, 1948. She is survived by her only two sisters, Betty Gautieri and Dorothy Quarterley both of Batavia. She had five deceased brothers, Harold Clayton Jr., John, Robert, William and Gerald.
Mrs. Kisiel leaves behind her three children. Her daughter, Diane Kisiel (Hiram) Kasten of Los Angeles, California and Batavia, two sons, Kim Henry (Katy Call) Kisiel of Geneseo and Kevin John Kisiel of Vero Beach, Florida. Six grandchildren; Millicent Kasten of Los Angeles, California and Batavia; Courtney (Benjamin) Lundberg of Surprise, Arizona, Michael Kisiel and Daniel Kisiel of Byron and Kaylie Kisiel and Laine Kisiel of Orlando, Florida. Two great-granchildren; Kennedy Lundberg and Bryce Lundberg of Surprise, Arizona. Five sisters-in-law; Barbara Quartley of Rochester, June Stack of Batavia, Wanda Pulvino and Eleanor DeFilippo of Batavia and Adeline Kisiel of Rochester. A brother-in-law; Henry Kujawski Sr. of Batavia. Her dear cousin, Carol Stevens Rogers of Oakfield and also many beloved neices and nephews.
Family and friends may call this evening, Thursday, 7-9 p.m. and Friday, 2-4 p.m. and 7-9 p.m. at the J. Leonard McAndrew Funeral Home, 2 Bogue Avenue, Batavia. Prayers will be Saturday at 8:45 a.m. at the J. Leonard McAndrew Funeral Home followed by a Mass of Christian Burial at Ressurection Parish (St. Mary's site) at 9:30 a.m.. Burial will be in St. Joseph's Cemetery.
Those desiring may make memorial contrubutions to the family for distribution to various charities.
Expressions of condolence may be made at: www.mcandrewfuneralhomes.net
Arrangements were entrusted to the J. Leonard McAndrew Funeral Home of Batavia. Ronald P. Konieczny, director & veteran.
