‘Perogei Queen’s’ death leaves void in Christmas tradition

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Alex Kwiatkowski and Barbara who was known as the "Pierogi Queen" Supplied photo

Updated: January 26, 2012 8:05AM

The family and friends of Barbara Kwiatkowski not only are missing a Christmas tradition this year — pierogies — they are missing the woman they treasured who made them.

Mrs. Kwiatkowski, 69, died Dec. 17 of pancreatic cancer.

For the past 21 years, Mrs. Kwiatkowski and her husband, Alex “Gooch” Kwiatkowski, welcomed guests to their Midlothian home where Mrs. Kwiatkowski reigned as the “Perogei Queen.”

Nancy Mostert, an “adopted niece” of Mrs. Kwiatkowski, said it all began when “Aunt Barbara” and two of Mostert’s sisters got together in 1988 to make the Polish dumplings for their families.

The party grew from the original three to about 65 people overflowing the modest Kwiatkowski home where family, neighbors, friends and friends of friends were welcomed, Mostert said.

“Because everybody loved it so much, they would invite other people,” Mostert said. Apparently, “Aunt Barbara” never turned anyone down.

By year 20, friends and family crowned Mrs. Kwiatkowski “Perogei Queen” in an informal ceremony in her home where an assembly line of cheese, meat, sauerkraut and potato fillings filled the basement, many made by Gooch Kwiatkowski during the week prior to the event while his wife attended her beloved bingo games. Married for 47 years, “Gooch,” of course, was her “Perogei King.”

Pierogies weren’t Mrs. Kwiatkowski’s only claim on the hearts of those who knew her. She was a “faithful friend and consistent gift-giver,” according to Mostert.

Mrs. Kwiatkowski never missed a birthday or Christmas, she said. “Everyone got an afghan” crocheted by Mrs. Kwiatkowski for every special occasion.

“Even when we were crowning her ‘Perogei Queen,’ she was trying to give me an afghan for my birthday,” Mostert said.

In addition to her husband, Mrs. Kwiatkowski is survived by their son, Johnny, and his wife, Lisa.

Mrs. Kwiatkowski insisted her son and his family vacation at Disney World in December at her expense and wouldn’t take “no” for an answer, despite her serious condition, friends said.

They said she will be remembered as the strong woman who once chased a would-be robber with a baseball bat, who never missed church at St. Christopher in Midlothian and who skillfully gutted fish while smoking a cigarette and carrying on a conversation — a one-of-a-kind character, the “Perogei Queen.”

Funeral services have been held.