Obituary of Florence Sobik

Florence (Rostkiewicz) Sobik, recently of Sandwich, MA and a 61 year resident of Franklyn Street in Rome, NY, passed in her sleep on October 17, 2015, just days after celebrating her 98th birthday. She was the youngest of 8 children and daughter of the late Stanley Rzodkiewicz and the late Johanna Gudanowski. She was born in Lorain, Ohio on October 13, 1917 and moved to Rome at a young age. Her siblings, all of whom predeceased her, included six brothers (each spelled their surname differently): Tony, Alex, Stanley, Eddie, Frank and Dominick, plus half-sister Mary. She married the late Joseph Sobik at St. Mary's in Rome in April 1940 and she is survived by their three children, Tom Sobik and his wife, Nancy of Clinton, NY, Joanne Sobik Westerhouse of Sandwich, MA, and Don Sobik of Ellsworth, ME; Tom's children: Brian Sobik and Jerico Sobik of Hardy, VA, Laura Sobik Kavanaugh and Arlene Kavanaugh of Cranston, RI, Chris Sobik and Jeannette Carioto of Albany, NY; Joanne's children: Kelly Westerhouse and George Williams of Weymouth, MA, Doranne Westerhouse Awad and Hossam Awad of San Marcos, CA, Julie Westerhouse and Kim Desjardins of Westbrook, ME. She is also survived by great, grandchildren, Heather and Nick Sobik of Georgia, (children of Brian), Yasmin and Adam Awad (children of Doranne), Alex Sobik Kavanaugh (daughter of Laura) and two great-grandchildren expected in November and March. Close family members include nephew, Dave Cornish and niece, Kathy Marcello, and many others. Florence, who graduated in 1936 from Rome Free Academy, worked as a dental receptionist for Dr. Marriott, in the cafeteria at Staley Junior High, and as a therapy aide at the Rome State School. She spent many of her retirement years bowling in leagues with late cousin Ann Cornish or dancing at the local American Legion and Polish Home. She spent many summers in Eagle Bay, NY at the family camp on Big Moose Road and hosted her brother Stan every winter in her home on Franklyn Street. Florence was an early adopter of health supplements like garlic, fish oil, and probiotics. She enjoyed cooking, especially soups, and taught her grandchildren to love family recipes for galumpki, pierogi, and rhubarb pie. She was an avid reader of mystery books, and in recent years, enjoyed birdwatching and people watching from her window, watching Family Feud and playing Solitaire, and listening to WBZ radio. She was fascinated by recent technology like the Kindle, Facetime and Skype, and Airdrop. Her one guilty pleasure was her love of scratch tickets. Funeral Services will be held on Wednesday at 11 AM at the Barry Funeral Home, 807 W. Chestnut Street. Burial will be in St. Mary's Cemetery. Relatives and friends may call at the funeral home from 9 to 11 AM prior to the service.