SALEM - Irene (Tomkiewicz) Meler, 93, of Salem, wife of the late Thomas S. Meler, died Sunday, May 22, 2011 at the Rosewood Nursing Home, Peabody, following a brief illness.
Born in Rumford, Maine, she was the daughter of the late Adolph and Helen (Pawlowicz) Tomkiewicz. Her family moved to Lawrence, MA where she was grew up, attended school and graduated from Lawrence High School in 1936.
During her working career, Mrs Meler was employed for several years at Parker Bros in Salem.
A resident of Salem for most of her life, she was an active parishioner of the St. John The Baptist Church in Salem. She, together with her late husband, was an active and long time member of the Polish Falcons, Nest #188 in Salem. She worked for and supported the organization on both the local and national levels and over the years was awarded the Bronze Legion of Honor Medal, the Silver Legion of Honor Medal and the Gold Legion of Honor Medal.
Irene is survived by one son and daughter-in-law, Thomas R. and Karen Meler of Beverly, 4 grandchildren, Christine Bruner of Virginia Beach, VA, Katherine Stanton of Haverhill, Allyson Shambo of Louisville, CO, Thomas M. Meler of Phoenix, AZ, 7 great grandchildren, one sister-in-law, Melaine Czupryna of Salem and several nieces and nephews. She was predeceased by sisters, Bernice Novick, Sophie Mutch, Ida Narushof, Stephanie Hmurciak, Mary Pietraszko and one brother, Warren Tomkiewicz.
Her funeral service will be held Saturday, May 28, 2011 at 9 am from the Full-Spychalski Funeral Home, 84 Washington Square East, by Salem Common, Salem, followed by a funeral Mass at 10 am at the St. John The Baptist Church, Salem. Visiting hours are Friday, 4 to 7 pm. Interment is in Greenlawn Cemetery, Salem. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in her memory to Starzynski Scholarship Fund, Polish Falcons of America , 381 Mansfield Avenue, Pittsburgh, PA 15220-2751. For on-line guestbook and directions, visit www.SalemFuneral.com.