Obituary of Eugenia Okoniewski

On April 1, 2020, Eugenia (Nina) Okoniewski, loving mother, grandmother, and great-grandmother, peacefully passed away in State College, PA. Nina was born on September 13, 1935, in Kaliszany, Poland. She was the oldest of 3 children born to Jan and Florentyna Adrianek. Nina spent the first half of her life in Poland, where she married Kazimierz (Kazik) Okoniewski in 1952, and raised their two sons in Gdansk. Nina moved to the United States from Poland in 1976, settling in State College with her husband Kazik. She worked for Penn State University for 20 years, eventually helping her son Darek receive his engineering degree from PSU and enabling her son Slavo and his young family join them in their new country. In State College, Nina was a pillar of the Polish community, keeping its members connected and carrying on traditions from the old country. She could usually be found at home, cooking and entertaining for her extended family and friends, or in her vegetable garden that she tended together with her husband with great care and pride. Her family meant everything to her. When they were growing up, her grandchildren often accompanied her on spectacular vacations, and they spent many summers in her care. Nina was preceded in death by her husband of 40 years Kazik Okoniewski. She is survived by her sons Slawomir (wife: Malgosia) and Darek (wife: Ania) Okoniewski; her grandchildren Lukas Okoniewski (wife: Megan), Ania Filepas (husband: Ricky), Marta Hawk (husband: William), Justyn Okoniewski (wife: Erika), and Claudia Okoniewski; her great-grandchildren Adrien and Julia Okoniewski, Natalia Filepas, and Luka Hawk; and her former daughter-in-law Krystyna Tyson. Nina will be greatly missed by family and friends. Services to celebrate Nina's life will be held at a later date in State College. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made in Nina's name to the Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinson's Research at https://tribute.michaeljfox.org/ or by copying and opening the following link: https://tribute.michaeljfox.org/tribute-page.php?id=1462&np=true Arrangements are under the care of Koch Funeral Home, State College. Online condolences and signing of the guest book may be entered at www.kochfuneralhome.com or visit us on Facebook.