Edward Ignacy Hipolit Wiewiorowski

A Funeral Mass will be held at 11:30 am on Saturday, August 16, 2008 at St. Pius X Catholic Church for Dr. Edward Wiewiorowski, 77, who passed away peacefully on Tuesday, August 12, 2008 at Lafayette General Medical Center, after a long and courageous battle with heart disease. Reverend Monsignor James Gaddy, Pastor of Our Lady Queen of Heaven Church in Lake Charles, will be Celebrant of the Mass and will conduct the funeral services. Con-celebrant will be Reverend Steven C. Leblanc, Pastor of St. Pius X Catholic Church. Dr. Wiewiorowski, a resident of Lafayette, was son of the late Karol Josef Wiewiorowski of Kraczki, Poland and the former Gertruda Wictoria Pluzkiewicz of Berlin, Germany. He was a member of St. Pius X Catholic Church. Edward Ignacy Hipolit Wiewiorowski was born on May 10, 1931 in Gdansk, Poland. His childhood and elementary school years were disrupted by WWII and the German occupation of Poland, which lasted from 1939 until 1945. Following the war Edward finished his high school education and then entered the Polytechnic Institute of Gdansk to study chemical engineering. He finished his undergraduate studies in 1954 and subsequently obtained his MS and PHD degrees, and began his teaching career as an adjunct professor at the same university. His post-graduates work at the Polytechnic Institute yielded several patents. During his studies there, in the early years, he met the love of his life, also a chemical engineering student, Irena. They were married in 1957. To escape the oppression of communism in Poland and to create a better life for his family, Edward immigrated to the United States in December 1972, along with his wife and two children. He settled in New Orleans, joining his mother and brother's family who immigrated there many years earlier. In January 1973 Edward began his 23-year career with Amax Metals Recovery. Edward authored and co-authored 14 patents and 30 papers in the fields of hydrometallurgy, chemical technology and pollution abatement. He was a member of the American Institute of Chemical Engineers, The Metals Society, The American Society of Professional Engineers and The Louisiana Engineering Society. He was a licensed professional engineer in the field of chemical engineering. He was the founder of the Polish American Society of Louisiana and belonged to Toastmasters International. He was recognized in 'International Who's Who of Intellectuals', 'Who's Who in the South and Southwest', 'Personalities of America; and 'Personalities of the South'. Edward had many passions and his love of life was contagious. He was an accomplished pianist and avid tennis player. He also loved academics, travel, bridge, horses, piano, chess, sailing, public speaking, dancing and people. He was a loving husband, father, grandfather, and friend and will be missed by many. He is survived by his loving wife of 52 years, Irena Sobolewska Wiewiorowski; his son, Martin C. Wiewiorowski and his wife, Cheryl; his daughter, Maria G. Leonpacher; his brother, Tad K. Wiewiorowski , Sr. and his wife, Mathilde; and six grandchildren, Anne K. Leonpacher, Nicholas E. Wiewiorowski, Andrew S. Leonpacher, Elizabeth A. Wiewiorowski, Katherine M. Wiewiorowski and Michael A. Leonpacher. He was preceded in death by his parents; paternal grandparents, Ignacy and Maria Wiewiorowski; and his maternal grandparents, Hipolit and Wictoria Pluzkiewicz. Pallbearers will be Martin C. Wiewiorowski, Nicholas Wiewiorowski, Andrew Leonpacher, Michael Leonpacher, Tad Wiewiorowski, Jr. and Tomek Filipak. Honorary pallbearers will be Tad Wiewiorowski, Sr., Henryk Filipiak, Eligiusz Sobolewski and Alfred D. Leonpacher. Edward's wish was for his remains to be taken back to his beloved Poland and he be buried alongside his grandparents in Gdansk, where he was born, taught and met Irena. The family would like to thank Doctors David Baker, Maurice Sullivan, Patrick Welch and many other physicians as well as the staff of Lafayette General Medical Center and Hospice of Acadiana for their compassionate care. The family requests visiting hours be observed on Friday from 4:00 pm until 8:00 pm and on Saturday from 8:30 am until time of services at Delhomme Funeral Home in Lafayette. A rosary will be prayed on Friday at 6:30 pm in the funeral home. Memorial contributions can be made in the name of Dr. Edward Wiewiorowski to the American Heart Association, P.O. Box 409410, Atlanta, Georgia 30384. Personal condolences may be sent to the Wiewiorowski family at www.delhommefuneralhome.com. Delhomme Funeral Home, 1011 Bertrand Drive, Lafayette, is in charge of funeral arrangements.

Edward Ignacy Hipolit Wiewiorowski

May 10, 1931 - August 12, 2008