Ann Gola

Ann Skripak Gola passed away on December 3, nearly reaching her 103rd birthday, after being surrounded by her loving family. Her life was well-lived, full and beautiful and she will remain an inspiration to all who knew her.

Ann was born December 18, 1922 in Bayonne to Carpatho-Rusyn immigrants Justin and Anastasia (Welczak) Skripak. Her parents were among the founders of SS Peter and Paul Russian Orthodox Church and she was the first baby baptized in the new church building on West 28th Street. Her father died in 1943 when only 48 years old and as the oldest daughter, she was thrust into helping her mother care for her younger siblings. That responsibility shaped the strength and independence that was her trademark the remainder of her life.

A graduate of Bayonne High School, Class of 1941, Ann worked at Bayonne’s Maidenform brassiere factory, overlooking the railroad tracks that carried troops off to World War II. As the cars rattled slowly by, she and her friends would wave bras out of the windows to the ecstatic roars of the GIs below. Certain weekends were spent in Atlantic City, where, on one sweltering summer day, she and her friends were having trouble getting served at a watering hole. Four guys offered their seats and after a while, one slipped away to his room. She wondered what happened to the good-looking guy with the nice smile and great tan. Soon, he returned with a fresh shirt and clean shave. She and Henry A. “Hank” Gola were married in 1950 and shortly after, settled in his native Garfield. There, in 1955, they bought the small Cape Cod home where she would live the rest of her life. They raised two children and were together for 36 years before she lost him in 1986. After living without the love of her life for nearly 40 years, she joins him now in eternity.

Ann was devoted to her faith and family, She spent many days baby-sitting and spoiling her grandchildren, Henry and Julianne. She loved watching her favorite TV shows, listening to Perry Como and playing Scrabble, especially with her sister Nancy and great grandson Elliot. She enjoyed going out with her sister-in-law Ann, her friend Jeanne Gola and her daughter-in-law’s mother Julia as well as after-church lunches with the ladies of the Three Saints mothers club. With feistiness packed into a small package, she never lost her sharp edge. Woe be it to any phone scammer. She always dispensed wisdom, such as, “never go out with a wet head.” Every Christmas Eve was a treat, reserved for the best pierogi one ever tasted. She was able to celebrate her 100th birthday with her large extended family and friends at a wonderful party at North Jersey Country Club.

Ann is survived by her daughter Sandra V. “Sandy Gola of Bloomfield, her son Henry A. “Hank” Gola Jr, daughter-in-law Lillian of Parsippany, sister Nancy (Ray) Tracy of Toms River, grandson Henry Robert Gola and his wife Alice Ann of Arlington, Va., granddaughter Julianne Gola Papa and her husband Jason of Glen Ridge, twin great granddaughters Rose and Ruby Gola, great grandson Elliot Gola Papa and great granddaughter Iris Papa, and many nieces and nephews, all of whom she loved dearly. She was pre-deceased by her husband and parents, brothers Nick (Marge), Steve (Dot) and John (Kathy), sister Mary (John) Wapner, father and mother in-law Walenty and Katarzyna Gola, brother-n-law and sister-in-law Ed (Mary) Gola and Ann (John) Biernat.

Visiting hours will be held Sunday, December 7, from 2-6 p.m. with the funeral service at 10 am Monday, beginning at the funeral home at 9am and continuing to the Russian Orthodox Church of the Three Saints in Garfield. Interment will be on Tuesday, December 9, 2025 at  11 am in St. Michael’s Cemetery, South Hackensack. Donations can be made in her name to the Russian Orthodox Church of the Three Saints.