From the Abington Journal: Overflowing with family fun: Relatives from 17 states attend Borek-Pendrak reunion

RANSOM TWP. – A downpour of rain did not put a damper on one family reunion Sunday, July 25. At 10 a.m., the Borek-Pendrak Biennial Reunion commenced with registration. But by 1 p.m., heavy rain had already begun to fall as more guests arrived to find a soggy parking area behind the home of Edward Edwin Borek in the Milwaukee section of Ransom Township. Some guests brought food and desserts to share and other kin such as Paul and Dorothy Kwiatkowski of Old Forge prepared favorites such as sausage and peppers and rigatoni with homemade meat sauce

—Another thing I like about our reunion is that we never, ever, ask anybody coming to the reunion for money. It’s all free will. If they want to give, fine, and if they don’t want to give, that’s fine. But we don’t request anyone to make a contribution. Since 1945, we never ran short of money. I use the two —G— words: the family is very generous and gracious,— said Roman Borek,— a native of Milwaukee who resides in Pasadena, Ca.

This year, relatives made the trek from states such as California, Indiana, Florida, New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Maryland, Connecticut, Massachusetts, Colorado and Virginia.

According to Ed Borek, Borek-Pendrak family reunions started at the end of World War II in 1945. He said, —The reunions started in 1945 to honor WWII Veterans from both the European and Pacific theaters. My mother and father had the desire to honor the veterans and it was a very, very memorable event. Throughout the years, we’ve had periodic reunions, but in 1990, we re-established the Borek-Pendrak reunion committee. For the last 10 years, we’ve had the reunions at my house because it was the perfect location in the country.—

As guests trickled in under the huge tent erected to the rear of the family homestead, Roman Borek gave each family member a nametag. The twin brothers, Ed and Roman Borek, along with a reunion committee, have been planning since February 2010 when Roman sent invitations to 246 head-of-household families scattered throughout the United States.

Every two years for as long as Roman Borek remembers, on the last Sunday in July on even-numbered years, rain or shine, the Borek-Pendrak family has gathered.

In the program booklet that each guest received are words that summarize perhaps why family from 17 states made their way to this reunion:

—What it means to be Family? Being Family means sharing celebrations when good times abound, and having arms to hold you when tears fall.

Being Family means you belong somewhere special, where you are known and loved just as you are, and where you are encouraged to become the person you still hope to be.

Being Family means that every season of the year you have a place to call home, a place of your own, where they hold you forever close to their hearts…—

What family is all about. Also, check out the pic of Fr. Jason, assistant priest at St. Stanislaus cathedral.