After 96 beautiful years, Adeline Genevieve Chmielewski (née Lekki) peacefully passed into her eternal life on February 17, 2026, leaving behind a legacy of love, laughter, and generosity that will carry on for generations.
Born on November 11, 1929, in Ava, New York, to Frank and Margaret (Krawczyk) Lekki, Adeline spent her childhood on the family’s busy dairy farm—where hard work, faith, and family were the heart of daily life. Growing up alongside her nine siblings—Bernice, Helen, Jane, Emily, Ben, Frank, Ed, Matt, and Bernie—she learned early the joy that comes from helping others, sharing a meal, and finding humor even in long days. Those lessons became the foundation of how she lived her life.
In May of 1952, she married the love of her life, John J. Chmielewski, in Rome, New York. Together, they built a home overflowing with warmth, laughter, and the comforting smell of something always cooking on the stove. Married for nearly 65 years until John’s passing in 2017, their love was a picture of dedication and quiet partnership—each a steady anchor for the other.
Adeline found her professional home in the Bell System, where she worked as a telephone operator for more than forty years. Her calm voice, kindness, and patience connected people in a time before cell phones and screens, and those same qualities connected her to everyone around her in life.
But Adeline’s true calling was her gift of bringing people together. She was the heart of every gathering—the one who made sure everyone was fed, welcomed, and surrounded by warmth. Family dinners, holidays, and simple Sunday afternoons seemed to revolve around her kitchen table, where laughter ran as freely as the coffee and conversation. Guests—whether relatives, neighbors, or friends—always left with full hearts and likely a plate of leftovers.
She is survived by her four loving children: Diane Raber, Ron Chmielewski (Marci), Deb Taubin (Scott), and Blaze Cooper / John B. Chmielewski. Her joy and kindness continue through her grandchildren—Cole (Laura), Connor (Ashley), Kyle (Martha), Carter (Rebecca), Nikki (Matt) Armenti, and Cory Taubin—and nine great-grandchildren, who will carry her memory in their stories, smiles, and shared meals.
Adeline lived her life with grace, faith, and a generous spirit. She had a way of making everyone feel like family, of finding light in simple moments, and of reminding those around her what truly matters—kindness, laughter, and love. To know her was to be cared for, and her spirit will remain the steady warmth at the heart of her family forever.
Her family would like to thank all who shared in her life and love, and who continue to honor her by living with the same kindness and joyful heart that defined her every day.