Pawel Lubanski

Obituary
Pawel Lubanski passed away Tuesday at Baystate Medical Springfield in Springfield. He was born in Poland (presently Belarus) to the that late Efrozinia and Simon Lubanski. Pawel grew up in a small village during the depression.  His father passed away when he was nine years old and his mother struggled to provide for her eight children.  The family fled toward Germany, before WWII, to escape the partisans and communists because many people were disappearing and being captured.  While in Germany he was a slave laborer. After WWII ended, he was in a refugee camp where he married Taisa Kozlakowski.  His oldest child, Edward, was born there.  They were finally legally sponsored to the U.S. in the early 1950’s.  They came on an Army ship where Pawel worked in the kitchen.  His then 18-month-old son Edward, threw his only pair of shoes overboard, that had been given to him by the Red Cross.  Upon arrival in NYC, he went to work and worked throughout his life.  After their daughter Lucy was born, they moved to Westfield, MA where their son George was born. Pawel lived a life to service.  He was a founding member and Pastor of Slavic Pentecostal Church and First Slavic Pentecostal Church.  He was instrumental in sponsoring about 1,000 families from Russia and Ukraine.  Pawel would pick them up at the airport, and they would stay at his house or the church until he settled them in apartments.  He found them furniture, took them to the doctors, helped enroll children in schools, taught them to drive, took them for driver’s licenses, and much more.  He loved God, his family and the church God gave him. Throughout his life he learned six languages.  He learned Polish, Russian and Ukrainian while in his homeland, German while in Germany, Spanish and English while in the U.S.  He loved America and was proud to be an American citizen.  God had a plan for his life here and it was fulfilled. We would like to thank all of the caregivers.  Thank you, First Slavic Pentecostal Church and Crosslight Gospel for all the love and support that you have shown Pawel and his family.  Thank you to all the Russian/Ukrainian people who have shown such love and respect to Pawel. He was predeceased by his loving wife Taisa (Kozlakowski) Lubanski, and he was the father of the late Edward Lubanski (2012) and George Lubanski (2008), and grandfather of the late Bradley Beatty (2011). He was the beloved father of Lucy Lubanski of Westfield, caring brother of Zenobia Ostaszewski of NJ, cherished grandfather of Jessica Lapollo (Gabriel), Brandon Lubanski (Chelsea), and Amanda Dupelle (Joe), and devoted great grandfather of Tristan Renaud and Carter Lubanski. Calling hours will be Saturday from 10-11 am at the Crosslight Gospel Church, 2611 Westfield Street, West Springfield followed by a Church Funeral Service at 11 am. Burial will be at the Pine Hill Cemetery in Westfield. TOOMEY-O’BRIEN FUNERAL HOME has been entrusted with all services. In lieu of flowers donations in Pawel’s name may be made to https://www.givesendgo.com/G3NCW


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