Obituary of Paulina Markowski

Paulina Markowski, 96, of Millstone Township passed away on January 1, 2016 at CentraState Medical Center, Freehold Township. She was born in New York City. Her parents Carmela and Antonio Priore were born in Italy and came to America before she was born. She had one brother, the late Joseph Priore from Peekskill, N.Y. Paula, as everyone knew her moved to 100th St. when she was in 1st grade, and in 1932 moved to 103rd Street. She loved playing sports especially basketball. Paula was 21 years old when she met Thaddeus (Ted) Markowski. They were married April 12, 1942 and Ted passed away in 2001. Valerie was their first and only child. They moved to Millstone Township in 1953 and she remained in the same home today. Paula worked for Bonwit Teller and Company, New York City in the hat department and then moved up to the bookkeeping department. When she moved to New Jersey, she became a bookkeeper for Monmouth Petroleum Company remaining with them for 40 years. Her grandchildren Lynnette and Kurt Harms and David and Susan Keldsen have brought so much joy to her life. Paula’s great grandchildren, Henry Harms and Rylee Ann Keldsen, embraced her and kept her very involved with their active lives. They kept her young at heart! Since Valerie’s marriage to Jack Mac Phee, a great son-in-law, Paula had extended her family to four grandchildren, Rick, Mary, Tom and Greg; and nine additional great grandchildren, Susan, Timothy, Kyle, Rebecca, Amanda, Andrew, Matthew, Montana and Dalton; and two great great grandchildren. Paula was the secretary of the Millstone Township Planning Board for 13 years. She was a member of the Parent Teachers Association. She held many offices in the Millstone Township Hospital Auxiliary including President. She was present for the groundbreaking of the much needed “Freehold Area Hospital” later renamed CentraState Medical Center. Paula was Treasurer of the CentraState Associated Auxiliaries for a number of years. She was presently Corresponding Secretary for both the Millstone Township Hospital Auxiliary and the CentraState Associated Auxiliaries. Paula was also Vice President of the Ladies of St. Joseph Church Group in Perrineville for several years and had been a current member of that group as well. She sang in the Choir of St. Joseph Church for many years and is always there to support the efforts of others. She was a member of the Catholic Daughters of the Americas, Court St. Rose of Lima, No. 737 in Freehold and was an Associate member of the Legion of Mary. Paula is an avid scrapbooker and has enjoyed reminiscing while completing several Heritage books for her family and herself. She belongs to a group of scrappers who meet once a week and has bonded so lovingly with them. Paula was a former member of the Red Hat Society, an active group enjoying recess for adults. She proudly wore her Red Hat to lunch. She considered herself very fortunate to have made so many wonderful friends over her lifetime and to have kept in touch with her family as well. The viewing will be held at the Higgins Memorial Home, 20 Center Street, Freehold on Monday from 2:00 to 4:00 and 7:00 to 9:00 p.m. The Funeral Liturgy will be celebrated at St. Joseph’s Church, 91 Stillhouse Road, Millstone Township on Tuesday at 10:00 a.m. followed by interment at the parish cemetery. Memorial donations to the Millstone Township Hospital Auxiliary, PO Box 35, Perrineville, NJ 08535, Ladies of St. Joseph Womens Group, 91 Stillhouse Road, Millstone Township, NJ 08535, or St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, 501 St. Jude Place, Memphis, TN 38105-1905 would be appreciated.