D. Josephine (Pelc) Bishop

D. Josephine ‘Billie’ ( nee Pelc ) Syzmanski Bishop

Billie was born in Auburn to Frank and Josephine Szolek Pelc on April 22, 1923 and died on December 9, 2018 at the Commons.

She attended St. Hyacinth’s Grammar School and graduated from East High School. Upon graduation, she worked in Auburn, NY until she met her future husband, Joe, at a Falcon Convention.  They married in 1945 and moved to Syracuse, NY. Their son Michael was born the following year.

While in Syracuse, Billie was trained to be an L.P.N. and worked at St. Mary’s Hospital on the pediatric floor.  She loved every minute of this experience.

Billie’s husband Joe died in 1962.  After this, Billie remained in Syracuse with her son for the following two years until she decided to move back to Auburn to be closer to her family.   She worked as an L.P.N. at Auburn Memorial Hospital for a few years before beginning a new career at General Electric.  Billie retired from General Electric after 20 years of service.

Retirement for Billie meant keeping active.  She was a dedicated member of St. Hyacinth’s Church. She showed this dedication by forming the Altar/Rosary Society.  Billie was also an active member of the Pierogi Workers group, which her mother first started. She took great pride in being recognized as a “super pincher”.

Billie was also a member of the Senior Citizen Club and was happy to go wherever she was assigned.  She enjoyed spending time with children most.  Another group that was close to Billie’s heart was the Polish Falcons where she received the Gold Legion of Honor for 50 years of tireless service.  It was at the Polish Falcons where Billie met her second husband, George Bishop.  They celebrated their silver wedding anniversary in 1999 at the Falcons Hall.  George died in 2010.

Surviving Billie are her grandchildren Karen Szymanski of Port Orchard, Washington, and Joseph Szymanski of Kent, Washington; great grandson, Michael, brother and sister-in-law John and Geri Pelc, one niece and five nephews.  Besides her parents, Billie was predeceased by her first husband, Joe, second husband, George, son, Michael and six siblings; Teofil, Frank, Stanley, Jane, Stella and Mary.

A Mass of Christian burial will be offered on Friday December 14, 2018 in St.Hyacinth Church at 11:00 a.m. Family and friends are invited to call one hour prior to her service, commencing at 10:00 a.m.in church. Billie will be laid to rest with her first husband Joe, and burial will be private in Sacred Heart Cemetery in Syracuse, NY.

Family has requested in lieu of flowers please consider donating to St. Hyacinth Church or Tyburn Academy.

Family has entrusted the Heieck –Pelc Funeral Home,LLC with Billie’s final arrangements.

Please visit www.heieckpelcfuneralhome.com to send a condolence or light a candle.

To send flowers to the family or plant a tree in memory of D. Josephine (Pelc) Bishop, please visit our floral store.