Alfreda Novak

Alfreda Novak (nee Wiercinski) fondly known as “Freddie” to family and friends, passed away on August 10, 2026, at the age of 85 after a short illness, leaving behind a family who loved her beyond measure and a lifetime of cherished memories.

Born and raised in Philadelphia, Alfreda was the daughter of the late Frank Wiercinski and Genevieve (Grodecki) Wiercinski. She was a proud graduate of John W. Hallahan Catholic Girls’ High School. She was preceded in death by her parents and her brother, Edward Wiercinski.

Alfreda was the beloved wife and life partner of William Novak. Together, they shared 63 years of marriage, building a life centered around family, partnership, hard work, and love.

She was the devoted mother of Kathie McGarrigle (Bill Bowdren), David Novak, and Ken Novak (Angie Logan); cherished grandmother of Kaitlyn, Ryan, Justin, Jaclynn, Skylar, and Logan; and loving great-grandmother of Sophia. She is also survived by numerous nieces and nephews, extended family members, and friends who will miss her dearly.

Alfreda was a woman who never believed in sitting still. For more than 30 years, she worked side by side with her husband, helping operate their successful business in the Olde City section of Philadelphia. She also enjoyed a fulfilling career as an Executive Assistant for 22 years at Congreso de Latinos Unidos, where she dedicated many years of her professional life before retiring.

But Alfreda’s greatest accomplishments could never be measured by a résumé.

Creative and artistic, she loved sewing, crocheting, singing, gardening, cooking, baking, creating art, and tackling home remodeling projects. She generously spent countless hours crocheting blankets for nursing home residents, using her talents to bring warmth and comfort to others.

There was also a good chance that something was baking in Alfreda’s kitchen. She was known for her famous zucchini bread and Jewish apple cakes, which she regularly shared with neighbors, friends, and family. Giving was simply part of who she was, and something homemade was often her way of letting someone know she was thinking of them.

Music brought Alfreda great happiness. She was a huge ABBA fan and could often be heard singing their songs or found watching Mamma Mia! She also loved traveling, visiting wineries, trips to the casino, and relaxing with her favorite Hallmark Channel movies.

Above all, there was her family.

Family was at the center of Alfreda’s life. She was the keeper of the traditions that connected one generation to the next, and nowhere was that more evident than during the holidays.

Alfreda loved opening her home to family and friends. She filled holidays with wonderful food, laughter, decorations, and traditions that everyone came to treasure. Christmas held a particularly special place in her heart, including the family tradition of making homemade pierogies and chruściki—recipes and customs passed down through generations.

She didn’t simply celebrate holidays. She created them for her family.

Alfreda’s life was found in the moments that mattered most—the meals she prepared, the cakes and breads she baked and gave away, the songs she sang, the things she created with her hands, the holidays she hosted, and the family she loved so deeply.

To her family, Alfreda was more than a wife, mother, grandmother, great-grandmother, sister, aunt, and friend.

She was home.

Her absence will be felt in the smallest and most unexpected moments—in the smell of zucchini bread baking, the opening notes of an ABBA song, a Hallmark movie, a garden in bloom, Christmas preparations, or someone saying, “Mom always did it this way.”

And in those moments, Alfreda will still be there.

Her family will honor her by gathering together, keeping her traditions alive, making the pierogies and chruściki, baking her recipes, singing her songs, telling her stories, and passing those memories on to the generations that follow.

Heaven gained an angel on August 10, 2026, but her family lost a piece of its heart.

Alfreda was deeply loved and will be missed beyond words. The love she gave, the memories she created, and the traditions she began will remain with her family forever.

A Celebration of Life honoring Alfreda will be held on Saturday, August 29, 2026, from 11:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. at the Maltese Room, 2049 Bristol Pike, Bensalem, PA 19020.

Family and friends are warmly invited to attend a service celebrating Alfreda’s life, followed by a luncheon as we gather together to remember and honor a life so deeply loved.