EUGENE F. ORNATOWSKI

Gene’s professional career was head of the meat department with The Great Atlantic & Pacific Tea Co. (A&P) for 40 years before retiring in 1994. Gene was a hard worker his whole life! Due to being raised by his grandfather on the farm. To this day Gene is not a fan of milk due to spending so much time milking the cows. Thank God for the Aunties that were in his life growing up! They took care of Gene with lots of love and food. They were proud Polish women who instilled that pride into Gene along with all the traditions of the Polish heritage. We celebrated those traditions yearly.

In addition to his professional accomplishments, Gene was a dedicated foster parent for 11 years, providing a loving home to 21 children during that time. As a cancer survivor, Gene celebrated life every year, defying the odds and living twice as long as doctors initially predicted. He was given 5-15 years when he was diagnosed but his strong will to live allowed him 30 more years. His resilience and determination were truly inspiring.

Gene had a big, loving, and tender heart, especially when it came to animals. Although some may have called him “Mean Gene”, those who knew him best recognized what was beneath his tough exterior. He had a passion for baseball, hunting, and bowling, and proudly displayed his many trophies to this day. Gene left an impression on everyone he met and will be greatly missed, never forgotten.

Gene is survived by his children, Kevin Ornatowski, Jean Marie (Stanley) Donavan, Paula (Gary) Thibault, and Valerie Ornatowski, as well as his stepchildren, Connie (Kurt) Dent, Rhoda (Louis) Dyjak, Russ Partlo, and Leatha (Chris) Glomski, he was a loving father to many foster children over the years, with a special bond formed with foster daughter Mindy (Tyler) Bruning, siblings, John (Carole) Ornatowsdki, Martin (Darleen) Ornatowski, Ray (Kathleen) Ornatowski and Rita (Jim) Lewandowski. Gene also leaves behind 15 grandchildren, 22 great-grandchildren and 6 great-great grandchildren.

He is preceded in death by his wife, Marion Elaine Ornatowski, three grandchildren, Jeremy Ornatowski, Cami Bailey, and Jamie McCormick, siblings, Benny (Phyllis) Ornaowski and Rosie (Frank) Zuziak, a step-grandson, Louis Paul Dyjak Jr., stepdaughter Margaret Moser, daughter-in-law Lavona Partlo, and son-in-law Hank Moser.

McWilliams Funeral Home is handling Eugene’s final arrangements, per Mr. Ornatowski’s wishes he has been taken for cremation with no services planned at this time.

In lieu of flowers, the family is requesting that you make that call, go make that visit, take those opportunities while you can and hold your loved ones as long, and strong, and as close as you can – ’til you can’t.