On Saturday, July 11, 2026, Agnes "Peggy" Polowy slipped away peacefully at her home in Dunkirk, surrounded by her loving family. She was able to pass away in her home aligning with her final wishes as she was cared for by her late daughter, grandson, and other family members. Born on January 12, 1926, Peggy was 100.5 years old. She was the third daughter and seventh child of John and Catherine (Bielat) Kaleta.
Peggy graduated from Dunkirk High School in 1944 and attended SUNY Fredonia in mid-life as a business major. She was a straight A student when she left college to help her children.
She worked as a legal and executive secretary until she gave birth to her first child. Helping her children was an integral part of her life, and she dedicated herself to being the best mom any child could ever want. In September 1946, she married Daniel C. Szocki at St. Hedwig's Church. He whisked her off to Tennessee, where he attended law school at the University of Tennessee, and she worked as a legal secretary for a prestigious Knoxville law firm. After his tragic passing in March 1964, she remarried to Jerome "Cleo" Polowy on July 15, 1967 at St. Hyacinth's Church and was married to him until his untimely death in August 1996.
Peggy raised and cherished two daughters, a son, and a grandson.
She was preceded in death by her husbands, Daniel Szocki and Jerome Polowy; her daughter, Sandra (Szocki) Greenman; her six siblings; and her parents. Peggy is survived by two children, Janice (Szocki) Brooks (David Van Bortel) and Mark Szocki; her grandson, Robert Greenman; and her three grandchildren, Jordan Brooks, Skylar (Van Bortel) Clark (Daniel) and John Van Bortel.
Visitation will be held on Monday, July 20 from 11:30-12:30 PM at the Larson-Timko Funeral Home, 20 Central Avenue in Fredonia, followed by Mass of Christian Burial at 1:00 PM at St. Hyacinth's Church in Dunkirk. The interment will follow the Mass at the St. Hyacinth's Cemetery. Friends and family are invited to sign Peggy's guest book at www.larsontimkofuneralhome.com.
Arrangements by David J. Dengler.
