Bronisława (Blanche) Olefirowicz

Bronisława (Blanche) Olefirowicz, 88, of Methuen, went peacefully to her eternal reward on December 27, 2024 at High Pointe Hospice in Haverhill, following a short illness.

The daughter of Aleksander and Anna (Halicka) Świderski was born October 13, 1936 in Ostrówek, Poland in the northeastern district of the country, nestled near Augustów. Blanche was the youngest of five siblings, raised on the family farm. She emigrated to the United States in the early 1960’s, living in Lowell, then Lawrence, prior to settling ultimately in Methuen. She married the love of her life in 1968, became a mother in 1972 and a very proud U.S. Citizen in 1978. While in the U.S. she earned her High School GED.

As a communicant of the former Holy Trinity Parish of Lawrence, she is predeceased by her parents, siblings Genia, Jan, Lucjan and Marysia, beloved cousin Monica J. Palozey, and her husband and best friend of over 56 years: Richard Fabian Olefirowicz, who passed in August 2024. She is survived by their only son Joseph R. Olefirowicz of Nashua, NH, nieces Jadwiga (Rysia) and her husband Bogdan Krakowski of Union, NJ, Małgosia (Margaret) and her husband Adam Tomczyk of Toms River, NJ, family friend Bradford Phenix of Pasadena, TX, niece Teresa (Olefirowicz) Christen of Zurich, Switzerland, niece Małgosia and her husband Wiesław Stankiewicz of Grymiaczki, Poland, along with three generations of countless nieces and nephews.

Her lifelong work as a talented seamstress was grounded in decades of arduous factory work, first with Malden Mills and later- in her longest period of such piece work – with Ralph Lauren Polo at the Everett Mills in Lawrence. Blanche was an exemplary wife and mother, worked her body to the bone, always put the needs of others first and stopped at nothing to sacrifice and provide for her family. For countless years she hosted multiple holiday family gatherings cooking for the masses, so very proud to host in her own home.

She saw first-hand, her only son’s artistic work in Germany in 1996 and later 2001, returning only once to Poland that latter October, introducing her husband and son to: her childhood home, her former way of life, foundations of faith and the extended European family she had not seen in decades (and never would again). Her Polish pride mixed with the true fulfillment of the American Dream became the God-and-country U.S. immigrant story personified.

Earning this Dream and building her Methuen house and family were hallmarks of her immigrant story. Blanche was the true epitome of the ‘neighborhood mom’ and welcomed people of all ages to her home or yard with grace and generosity: from a lemonade or sandwich, to full multi-course Polish meals (at any time of day or night!) of homemade pierogi and golabki, not forgetting her legendary raisin bread. Her annual flower beds were the neighborhood’s pride for decades. Her lifelong dedication to the Catholic Faith instilled a deep sense of Christian faith in her son; she and her husband would even continue to view Mass and pray the Rosary every day during their retirement.

The family would like to thank Fr. Patrick S. Armano, Blanche’s generous and helping neighbors Bruce, Dave, Jeffrey, Jen, Jim, Karen, Kimberly, LeeAnne, Marlene, Mary, Nancy and Mike; the entire AgeSpan team; her in-home caregivers Wiselene, Mayra and Rosa; nurse Melissa from the St. Camillus ward of Holy Family Hospital, as well as the extraordinary team of compassionate angels so very briefly charged with her hospice care.

Calling hours will be held from 6:00-8:00PM on Friday January 17 at the Dewhirst Boles Funeral Home, 80 Broadway, Methuen, MA 01844. A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at 11:00AM on Saturday January 18 at Holy Rosary Shrine, 28 Union Street, Lawrence, MA 01840 (parking lot on Common St.), interment to immediately follow. To leave an online condolence, please visit Blanche’s tribute page at www.dewhirstbolesfuneral.com

Floral tributes are welcome. Memorial donations may be made by check to “The First Church of Nashua” – 1 Concord Street, Nashua, NH 03064. Please place “Pipe Organ Fund” in the memo.

Rest in peace, good and faithful servant. You are so very loved. Now dance the polka with Tata in heaven, and embrace your dear mother whom you lost at the tender age of three.