Clara Butkowski

Clara Zalewski Butkowski, age 87, of Erie, died Saturday, October 31, 2009 at Pleasant Ridge Manor West. She was born on June 18, 1922 in New Castle, PA, the daughter of the late, John and Helen Gurgascz Zalewski.

She has been an Erie resident for twenty years. She was employed as a cashier for Joseph's Super Market and Grata's Five and Dime in New Castle. She was the first baby baptized in Sts. Phillip and James Church in New Castle. She then attended St. Joseph the Worker Parish and was a member of the Altar Rosary Society. In Erie, she was a member of St. George Parish and Rosary Society. She was a member of TOPS in both New Castle and Erie. Clara loved to bake and decorate cakes. Her largest wedding cake served 1,000 people. She also enjoyed sewing, china painting, quilting, and crocheting. She especially enjoyed making Polish Easter Eggs also known as Pisanki.

She was preceded in death by her husband of 42 years, Henry A. Butkowski, in 1988. She is survived by one daughter, Sandy M. Reid and her husband, Robert, of Millcreek Twp., two sisters; Sophie Smola and Jennie Lukasik both of Jeannette, PA, one granddaughter, Stephanie Ann Reid, who attends Edinboro University.

Friends may call on Tuesday from 9:30 a.m. until the time of the Mass of the Resurrection at St. George Church at 11:00 a.m. Private interment at Sts. Phillip and James Cemetery in New Castle conducted by the Rev. Brian S. Reid, brother-law of Sandy Reid. Arrangements are being handled by the Dusckas-Martin Funeral Home and Crematory, Inc., 4216 Sterrettania Rd., Erie, PA 16506.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to St. George School, 5145 Peach St. Erie, PA 16509 or to the Erie Blind Center, 2402 Cherry St., Erie, PA 16502.

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