Fay Kalinowsky

On January 8, 2025, Fay Kalinowsky died at Berkshire Medical Center in Pittsfield, MA. She was born in October, under sunny skies on the 20th, 1933.

Her granddaughter Sarena now skates at the Boys and Girls Club and one of her fondest memories was also skating at the park. Many nights she would walk to the common with her friends in those years, never fearful of the dark. At the park there was a small warming house where toes were thawed, and stomachs were warmed by hot cocoa.

Fay enjoyed all things Italian and ate with gusto. She also loved a tasty dessert, and her daughter Joanne made the best cheesecake. Her daughter Kristine made the greatest carrot cake. She loved brand name clothes, and with Macy’s demise, she found a new love at Goodwill. Saturday mornings were often spent plotting and going to tag sales with Renee. In her later years, her daughter Donna found a wonderful restaurant called Pleasant and Main Café in Housatonic where they went on Saturdays after the farmers’ market.

Her passion was dancing; country music was great, but a good polka was better. She loved stepping out with friends at the ITAM as well. She never turned down the opportunity for “a ride”. The best started with lunch and ended with an ice cream cone. Her sister-in-law Maxine, and May’s brother Jack, escorted her in later years.

Every eight weeks she looked forward to her renewed style and engaging conversation with Dave Daunais at Cheveux Hair Clinic.

Fay enjoyed baking anything in season. After a morning of blueberry picking, she made her famous blueberry muffins which were once enjoyed by a bear. Her well-loved banana, pumpkin, and zucchini breads were always shared with family and friends.

Family visits were something Fay cherished. She was fortunate to have a great relationship with her grandchildren, nieces and nephews. She was an animal lover and opened her home to many pets over the years. She loved her cat Angel and Hannah, a dog she shared with Blake. She also looked forward to the visits from her grand dogs Maddie and Tucker.

Fay married Serge Kalinowsky on October 22, 1960. He died March 12th 2005 after 44 years of marriage.

She leaves three of her five children, Renee Church and Donna Kalinowsky, both of Pittsfield, and Joanne & Bill Tierney of Old Orchard Beach, ME. Fay was predeceased by two beloved children, Serge Kalinowsky who died in 1977 and Kristine Strzepa who passed on November 13, 2012.

Fay leaves her grandchildren, Sara Tucker who was born the day Fay earned her GED, Alex and Sandi Chen, Joy and Hope (Harper) Kalinowsky, and Derek and Blake Strzepa. Her great grandchildren include Jayden, Jacoby and Sarena Tucker, Juno Chen, and Odin Strzepa, and her newest great grandchild Aurora Chen Hoover, who visited her on her last day and brought a smile to her face. She also leaves a long list of nieces and nephews whom she adored. 

The family wishes to extend a special thanks to Suzy Silvano who visited her in her final week, to Alanon, an organization and group of individuals that brought her peace, to the Berkshire Ambulance who treated here with kindness and, and to the Berkshire Humane Society for her many sweet 4-footed friends. They would also like to thank Ella, who hosted grandparents’ groups where Fay found solace and great conversation and the Senior Center for their supportive day care. 

In lieu of flowers, friends may consider a donation to one of the above-named organizations in Fay's memory.

SERVICES: Calling hours will be March 22, 2025, at the Devanny-Condron Funeral Home from 8-9:30AM. A Funeral Service will follow beginning at 10AM at the St. Michael the Archangel Mausoleum located within St. Joseph's Cemetery.