GARDNER — Alma Amelia (Poitras) (Ware) (Hamel) Kalinowski, 91, of Gardner, died peacefully Monday, April 23, 2012, in Heywood Hospital, Gardner, following a brief illness.

Born in Winchendon, she was the daughter of the late Joseph and Georgianna (LaBelle) Poitras.

She was employed by Cumberland Farms in Gardner and Ashburnham as a Manager for 20 years, retiring 1985.

Alma was a member of Our Lady of the Holy Rosary Church in Gardner. She was also a member of A.A.R.P.

She enjoyed reading, sewing, playing Beano and watching “Cops” on television. Alma especially enjoyed spending time with her family.

Alma was predeceased by her first husband, John Alton Ware, who died in 1953, her second husband, Urgel Hamel who died in 1967, and by her third husband, Francis Kalinowski who died in 1997.

She leaves two sons, Thomas K. Ware and his wife, Patricia of Burlington, VT, and Gary A. Hamel and his wife, Lucy of Otter River, MA; one daughter, Helen M. Boudreau and her husband, Philip of Hudson, MA; one son-in-law, Richard Jacobsen of Washington State;

12 grandchildren, David Vaillancourt, Daniel Vaillancourt, Dennis Vaillancourt, Dean Vaillancourt, Leta Koutrakos, Sheila Knowlen, Laura Mae and Jennifer Mae Boudreau, Benjamin Ware, Megan Ware, Holly Hamel and Lindsay Hamel; several great-grandchildren; several great-great grandchildren; nieces, nephews and cousins.

Alma was predeceased by one son, Henry Hamel, and two daughters, Joan Alma Vaillancourt and Jane Edna Jacobsen.

KALINOWSKI — Funeral Services will be held Saturday, April 28th at 11:00 a.m. in the Boucher Funeral Home, Inc., 110 Nichols Street, Gardner. Burial will be in Pine Grove Cemetery, Templeton. Calling hours in the funeral home will be Saturday, April 28th from 9:00 a.m. to 11:00 a.m. Memorial contributions may be made to The Salvation Army, 72 Cambridge Street, Worcester, MA 01603. www.boucherfuneral.com

Source:  Sentinel & Enterprise (Fitchburg, MA) — Thursday, April 26, 2012