Officials held a moment of silence in honor of Krystyna Olejnik during the April 7 Borough Council meeting.
by Jane Meggitt, Special Writer
ROOSEVELT — The small community of Roosevelt is mourning the death of longtime resident and borough clerk, Krystyna Olejnik, who died April 3 at the age of 63.
Officials held a moment of silence in honor of Ms. Olejnik during the April 7 Borough Council meeting.
Mayor Beth Battel said that she and the Borough Council were deeply saddened by the death of their long-time borough clerk – and friend, “Krystyna,” who had served the borough for nearly 30 years, having started in March of 1985.
In addition to clerk, Ms. Olejnik was the purchasing agent and registrar of vital statistics. Through all the years of various individuals serving as mayors and council people, she was the one who knew where things were and how things got done – she was a tremendous help to me in my years as mayor,” she said. “Krystyna will be greatly missed. Our condolences go out to her husband and family.”
Mayor Battel lamented that after serving the borough for nearly three decades, Ms. Olejnik died too early to even begin to enjoy a well-earned retirement.
Councilman Michael Ticktin, who worked with Ms. Olejnik during the many years he served as tax assessor, also reflected on her service to the community.
”She was a fine person who was always dedicated to the well-being of the community and she will be very much missed,” Mr. Ticktin said.
Bob Clark, a 38-year Roosevelt resident and former part-time borough administrator, said he was always impressed with Ms. Olejnik’s work ethic.
”(My time as administrator) provided me with an eye-opening opportunity to see just how hard Krys worked to help the public and handle all the paperwork,” Mr. Clark recalled. “During her tenure, Krys spent more time at the municipal building, and carrying out official tasks at the bank, cemetery and post office, than any other official or employee of Roosevelt.”
Mr. Clark added that, more often than not, she served simultaneously as receptionist, purchasing official, keeper of vital statistics, arranger of burials and weddings and scheduler of the community room.
”She had to make time for continuing education required of municipal clerks and registrars, work around equipment failures and orient dozens of volunteer public officials to state-imposed processes governing municipalities,” he said. “Most difficult was frequently having to be the one required to tell residents – and even the officials who were her bosses – what state law and borough ordinances required them to do and prevented them from doing. We all know this is especially difficult for anyone who lives in the community where she works.
”The amazing thing is that she accomplished all this as an immigrant from Poland speaking English as a second language. She adopted the U.S. as her country and Roosevelt as her town, loyally dedicating herself to both,” he added.
Born in Krakow, Poland, Ms. Olejnik moved to the U.S. in 1976.
Daughter of the late Tadeusz Bieracki, she is survived by her husband, Thomas Olejnik; her mother, Janina Bak; sister, Malgosia Sondej, nephew and niece, Dr. Tomasz Sondej and Agnieszka Sondej; mother-in-law, Kazimera Olejnik, sister-in-law, Barbara Olejnik and her husband, Ronald Rabideau, according to her obituary.
A visitation with the family was held Thursday, April 10 at the Peppler Funeral Home, 114 S. Main St., Allentown. A Mass of resurrection was celebrated Saturday, April 12 at Saint Joseph’s Polish Church, 1010 Liberty Street, Camden.

