Victoria Olmedo, 86, of Hot Springs, Arkansas, and formerly a resident of Buttermilk Falls Road, Warwick, NY, passed away peacefully on September 2, 2009 at the Quapaw Nursing Facility in Hot Springs.
Born in Linden, New Jersey, on June 6, 1923, to Anna and John Dombrowsky, she was from the start, one who lived life to the fullest. Perspicacious, independent, and adventurous, she began her career working as one of the first female railway switch operators to coordinate continental USA troop transport during World War II. Later, she used her secretarial skills to start a tugboat business on the NY/NJ waterfront with her husband and truly best friend and soulmate, Jim. Still later, she worked for, among other businesses, the following companies: Anne Klein in New York City, Union Carbide in Sterling Forest, NY, and Mechanical Rubber in Warwick, NY.
All in the family agree that Mom sincerely believed in, practiced, and handed down to her children and their children the axiom: “Busy little hands are happy little hands.”
Victoria loved to work, to learn, to participate. Much the nature lover, she determinedly tackled a difficult piece of land to create her cherished garden and peaceful landscape. A life-long learner, she often engaged in lively discussions centering on world events and economics, and she frequently traveled throughout the U.S.A., Europe and the Far East. Ever civic-minded, she was active in Warwick’s community affairs, being a strong supporter of the American Legion and a member of the Town of Warwick Zoning Board, Board of Appeals, and the Republican Committee. Additionally, Victoria was appointed by the late NY state senator Eugene Levy to serve as his local NYS representative, a position she had accepted and held with great pride.
Victoria is predeceased by her loving and most beloved husband, Jim and by her eldest and most sincerely loved and sadly missed son, Leonard, who passed away April 3rd of this year.
She is survived by her three children and daughter-in-law: son James Olmedo, Jr. and his wife Carole of Hot Springs, Arkansas, daughter Victoria Pawliczek and her husband Edward of Alberton, Montana, daughter Geraldine Duits and her partner Brian Wittman of Middletown, New York, daughter-in-law Irene Sabal, wife of son Leonard, of Taylorsville, North Carolina; by her six grandchildren: Noi Louden, Jason Sabal, Jamie Pawliczek, Nicole Orschelen, James Charles Olmedo, and Jesse Olmedo; and by her four great-grandchildren: Hunter Kephart, J.C. “Boot” Olmedo, Ava Jayne Olmedo, and Jake Louden.
A graveside memorial service will be held on Saturday, September 26, 2009, at 1:00 pm at St. Stephen’s Cemetery, Warwick.