Eugene Peter Urbanowicz

Eugene Peter Urbanowicz was born on April 24, 1933 to Petronella and Walter Urbanowicz in Brooklyn, New York. He passed away peacefully on February 3, 2025 at the age of 91. Gene was a husband, father, grandfather, great-grandfather and friend to anyone he met. He attended Our Lady of Consolation Catholic School and Textile High School in Brooklyn. He enlisted in the United States Army earning the rank of Military Police while stationed in Niagara Falls, New York. Upon completing his enlistment, he attended the Academy of Transportation. He worked for Charles Pfizer upon graduation. He also worked for Unilever, Exxon (Esso, Enjay), Lyondell Petrochemical, his own consultancy (GU Transportation), and Westlake Polymers. He often worked two jobs to provide for his large family. Some of his fondest memories were the many ‘business’ lunches he enjoyed courtesy of his colleagues and friends he made throughout his career.

He met and married the love of his life Barbara Lukowski, and they enjoyed 64 wonderful years together as husband and wife. Our mother loves to tell the story of their honeymoon, travelling by train to Miami, Florida and eventually to Nassau, Bahamas. They spent all their money on the trip and could not afford the cab ride home to Brooklyn. He assured our mother that his own mother would be sitting outside on the ‘stoop’ awaiting their return, and she would cover the cost of the cab. 

While Gene was a Brooklyn boy to his last day with us, he moved his family to Houston, Texas in 1972. His best friends were his work friends with whom he spent many weekends gathered with their extended families. He was active in his church, St. Michael, serving as an usher and a member of the Parish Council, making lifelong friends along the way. He was also a faithful parishioner at St. Simon and St. Jude (The Woodlands, Texas), St. Vincent de Paul (Austin, Texas), and most recently St. Elizabeth Ann Seton (Keller, Texas).

Gene is preceded in death by his parents, his parent’s in-law Walter and Sophie Lukowski, his brother John (Gabrielle), sister Hatti Bogden (Walter), brother-in-law Walter Lukowski (Claire), and sister-in-law Irene Kavanagh (Dermot). 

Gene was blessed with six children and five bonus children: Barbara (Sean), Irene (David), Peter (Cindy), Mary (Stewart), John (Kelly) and Kevin. In addition, Gene was a grandfather and a great grandfather, affectionately known as “Bumpa”. His beloved grandchildren Brian (Carly), Taylor (Angela), Colin (Christina), Rory (Gabrielle), Emma, Sophie, Kayla, and Jasmine and great-grandchildren Mallory, Alden, Jordan, Elizabeth, and Giselle. Gene managed to find enough love in his heart for so many, and he will be greatly missed by them. In addition to his wife, children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren. Gene is survived by many nieces, nephews, and cousins as well a favorite niece / nephew Geri and Ed Grabowski and lifelong friends Sue and Ralph Egizi.

In his spare time, Gene loved spending time with his family. As teenagers, our friends were his friends, knowing we could count on him to be entertaining and accepting of whoever we brought home. At home, he was the master fixer of all things with no real knack for being a handyman. He could always find something suitable in his garage to address whatever needed repairing, mostly via duct tape. He managed to keep a fleet of used cars running safely with five licensed teenage drivers at one time. Gene enjoyed travelling to visit his extended family in New York and New Jersey, and he cherished the time he was able to spend visiting his children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren. He also enjoyed the times his New York family would make a visit to Texas, often wearing his Cowboy hat with pride as he showed them about town.

Gene lived his life full of optimism, joy and hope for tomorrow. While we are saddened with his passing, we are filled with joy knowing he lived a life well lived. Our father was always a larger-than-life character, who could light up any room with his big personality. He was the master of one-liners and catchy sayings that he could use (or overuse) appropriately. Some favorites are “caring is sharing”, “no doubt about it”, “if the shoe fits wear it” or “as a result”. As we look back on so many memories, we recall his favorite saying “yesterday is history, tomorrow’s a mystery…today is a present”. His love for God was a light that shone through with anyone he ever met. One last saying, when someone would ask “hey Gene, how are you doing? His reply…I got up today”. Well today he really got up and rightly earned his place in Heaven. 

We close with our father’s favorite Polish song to send good wishes. He was the master of that final note.

Sto lat, sto lat 

Niech żyje, żyje nam.

Sto lat, sto lat,

Niech żyje, żyje nam,

Jeszcze raz, jeszcze raz,

Niech żyje, żyje nam,

Niech żyje nam!