Obituaries
Roman Berganski
Roman "Ski" Albert Berganski, an 11-year resident of Bowie, died April 30 at Bowie Health Center. He was 77.
Mr. Berganski was born Oct. 16, 1930 in Chicago, Ill. He was a senior master sergeant in the Air Force, retiring after over 23 years of service. He had been employed for 20 years with the U.S. Postal Service.
Mr. Berganski enjoyed the beach and playing bingo.
Survivors include his wife, Dora Berganski whom he married June 13, 1953; a son, Michael Berganski of Bowie; a daughter, Judy Villella of Bowie; a brother, Thomas Berganski; two sisters, Dorothy Mrozek and Eleanor Kleason; and three grandchildren. He was predeceased by a daughter, Donna Berganski Zimmerman, and a grandson, Anthony Villella.
Services were at St. Pius X Catholic Church. Burial was private. Arrangements were by Evans Funeral Home.
Memorial contributions may be made to the Anthony Villella Scholarship, DeMatha High School, 4313 Madison St., Hyattsville, MD 20781.
Mary Boarman
Mary Frances Boarman of Severna Park and formerly of Bowie, died of lymphoma April 29 at her home. She was 61.
Born Jan. 27, 1947, in Washington, D.C., Mrs. Boarman was raised in Hyattsville. She attended Elizabeth Seton High School in Bladensburg, St. Joseph College in Emmittsburg and the University of North Carolina at Wilmington, and graduated from the University of Maryland.
She was a settlement officer at Beltway Title Co.
Mrs. Boarman was a member of Miles River Yacht Club, Forked Creek Yacht Club and Our Lady of the Fields Catholic Church.
She enjoyed gardening, boating, cooking, shopping, and being active in the Democratic Party.
Survivors include her husband of 31 years, William J. Boarman; one son, Christopher W. Roebuck of San Francisco; and one daughter, Lauren E. Boarman of Gambrills.
Services were held at Our Lady of the Fields Catholic Church, Millersville, with burial in Glen Haven Memorial Park in Glen Burnie. Arrangements were by Barranco and Sons Severna Park Funeral Home.
Memorial contributions may be made to Leukemia and Lymphoma Society, PO Box 4072, Pittsfield, MA 01202.
Opal Cowan
Opal Siler Cowan of Nixa, Mo., and formerly of Bowie, died May 2. She was 101.
Born March 1, 1907 in Iola, Kan., she attended school in Springfield, Mo., and graduated from Southwest Missouri State Teachers College with a degree in primary education and a music major.
She was a teacher for 44 years, first in Anderson, Mo., then Liberty, Mo., and lastly she taught in Bowie for 37 years.
Mrs. Cowan was active in church activities, as a pianist, choir director and director of many musical programs.
Survivors include a son, S. Jay Cowan of Sarasota, Fla.; a daughter, Ann E. Shay of Nixa, Mo.; four grandchildren, six great-grandchildren and one great-great-grandson. She was predeceased by her husband, John Cowan who died in 1991; a daughter, Nancy; and two brothers, T.E. Siler and Herman Siler.
Visitation will be today at 11 a.m. with services at noon at Evans Funeral Home. Burial will be in Holy Trinity Episcopal Church Cemetery.
Barbara Martoncik
Barbara Ann Smigielski Martoncik, formerly of Bowie, died of cancer April 24 at Winchester Medical Center, Winchester, Va. She was 53.
Mrs. Martoncik was born Dec. 4, 1954 in Buffalo, N.Y. While growing up in Bowie, she attended Whitehall Elementary School, Samuel Ogle Junior High and was a 1972 graduate of Bowie High School. She enjoyed horseback riding at the Bowie stables off Old Chapel Road. She was once employed at the FBI in Washington, D.C., before moving to the Shenandoah Valley in Virginia.
She was owner of Liberty Tax Service in Woodstock and Strasburg, and a member of St. John Bosco Roman Catholic Church.
Survivors include her husband, Wayne Martoncik; two sons, Nathan Martoncik of Richmond, Va., and Matthew Martoncik of Toms Brook, Va.; four daughters, Regina Black of Edinburg, Va., Christy Black of White Post, Va., and Megan and Jessica Martoncik, both of Fort Valley, Va.; two stepsons, Wayne Martoncik II of Zepp, Va., and Andri Martoncik of Stephens City, Va.; her mother Regina Smigielski of Bowie; a brother, Michael Smigielski of North Carolina; five sisters, Susan Curran, Mary Funk and Patty Veri of Bowie, Margaret Smigielski of Crofton and Teresa McGinnis of Florida; and seven grandchildren. She was predeceased by two sons, Matthew Black and John Black; and her father, Frank J. Smigielski.
Services were held at St. John Bosco Roman Catholic Church in Woodstock, with burial in Panorama Memorial Gardens. Arrangements were by Dellinger Funeral Home, Woodstock, Va.
Memorial contributions may be made to American Cancer Society, PO Box 321, Woodstock, VA 22664.
Charles Smith
Charles "Smiddy" Herbert Smith, a 10-year resident of Bowie, died of cancer April 30 at his home. He was 70.
Born July 10, 1937 in Cambridge, Mass., Mr. Smith was a senior master sergeant serving in the U.S. Air Force for 28 years. He received the Air Force Commendation, Meritorious Service, Joint Service Commendation and National Defense Service medals, Air Force Outstanding Unit and Good Conduct awards with six oak leaf clusters, Army Good Conduct Medal with two devices, NCO Professional Education Ribbon and the Air Force Longevity Service Ribbon with six oak leaf clusters.
Upon retiring from the Air Force, Mr. Smith worked in civil service with the Department of Defense for 16 years before moving to Bowie where he was employed by W.L. Gary Inc. before his illness.
Mr. Smith was a member of Cresthill Baptist Church.
He enjoyed the Eagles and fishing.
Survivors include his wife, Carole Smith whom he married in 1957; a son, Duane Smith of Mascoutoh, Ill.; two daughters, Dawn Greer and Karen Heizer, both of Bowie; a sister, Jean Phippen of Bettendorff, Iowa; and eight grandchildren.
A memorial service will be held Saturday at 1 p.m. at Cresthill Baptist Church. Burial will be May 22 at 10 a.m. in Arlington National Cemetery.
Memorial contributions may be made to Hospice of the Chesapeake, 445 Defense Highway, Annapolis, MD 21401, or Cresthill Baptist Church Deacons Helping Hand, 6510 Laurel-Bowie Road, Bowie, MD 20715.
