Joan Krajewski was remembered fondly at her funeral last week.
Joan Krajewski was a good and faithful servant of God who did ordinary things extraordinarily, the Rev. Joseph Campellone said in his homily during the veteran city councilwoman’s funeral Mass last week.
“She had a sense of who she was and what she was all about that was very special,” Campellone told mourners on Sept. 4 at Christ the King Catholic Church in Morrell Park.
Krajewski worked in the city Department of Revenue before running for Council in 1979. A Democrat, she represented the 6th Councilmanic District from 1980 to 2011 and was also Democratic leader of the 65th Ward for many years. She died on Aug. 29 at age 79 after a long battle with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.
Among her biggest achievements was creating the popular Community Life Improvement Program (CLIP).
Over the years, she earned many honors, including being in the charter class of the Northeast Philadelphia Hall of Fame. She’s in Philadelphia magazine’s “Best of Philly” Hall of Fame. She’s even in the Hall of Fame of the all-boys Father Judge High School, where Campellone serves as president.
The John F. Givnish Funeral Home on Academy Road hosted two well-attended viewings prior to the funeral Mass.
Among those who attended the Mass were Mayor Michael Nutter, members of City Council and her former staff members.
Burial was at Resurrection Cemetery.
Campellone was a close friend of Krajewski, who was a big help to Father Judge on several initiatives. He said she served with integrity and credited her with conducting impromptu office hours at places such as Kmart, neighborhood diners and along Frankford Avenue. He recalled her love of family and staff, adding that she was an “old-school” politician.
“I’m glad she was old school,” he said.
Campellone called Krajewski a simple person who was a doer, not a talker.
“She represented us well,” he said.
Michele Krajewski, her daughter-in-law, called the tough-talking councilwoman a “softie” with her grandchildren, who lovingly called her “Memom.”
She also noted that her mother-in-law favored a Laura Ingalls Wilder quote that goes, “Remember me with smiles and laughter, for that is how I will remember you all. If you can only remember me with tears, then don’t remember me at all.”
“Joan, we love you and will miss you dearly,” Michele Krajewski said.
Krajewski is survived by sons Casimer Jr., Michael and Thomas; grandchildren Alison, Michael Jr., Thomas Jr., Kyle and Kaitlyn; sisters Sister Helen Kline and Regina Karbelk; and nieces and nephews.
Memorial contributions in her name can be sent to Special People In Northeast Inc., 10501 Drummond Road, Philadelphia, PA 19154. ••
