Eugene (Gene) Paul Chmielewski, the middle child of the late Edward and Ann Chmielewski, passed away on December 23, 2025.  He was 78.

Gene was born on November 2, 1947 in Bayonne, NJ, where he attended St Andrew’s Catholic Grade School and regularly accompanied his father to St. Andrew the Apostle Church.  In 1957, his family moved to their first house in Roselle Park on Filbert St, directly across from the Lehigh Valley Railroad line.  It was here Gene developed his lifelong love for trains and the 1957 Chevy Bel Air, which his father bought that year.  He attended St. Joseph the Carpenter School and graduated from Roselle Catholic High School.  Gene enjoyed trips to Olympic Park with his brother Paul; golf, bowling, recreational sports; and embraced his adventurous spirit exploring NJ on his bike with friends.

After high school Gene took his first full time job at Two Guys department Store in Union, NJ.  It was here he met the one and only love of his life, and future wife Dianne Dupre. She was attracted by his sense of humor and quiet steadiness. He took her on their first date to see Doctor Zhivago on April 1, 1967, and married in 1971.

Shortly thereafter Gene and Dianne bought a house in Edison, NJ and had two sons Michael and Brian.  He happily resided there for 52 years.  Gene selflessly put his family’s needs above his own, dedicating his days to supporting his wife and creating memories through family adventures to museums, amusement parks, bluegrass festivals and other attractions.  He was a lifelong parishioner of St Helena Roman Catholic Church in Edison.

At the time of their marriage Gene completed the Manpower training program in Newark, NJ, preparing for a career in financial services.  Gene began his career commuting to Wall Street in Manhattan, where he worked at Dean Witter & Co, then moving to Merrill Lynch, working his way up to Margin Options Supervisor.

Gene’s lifelong passion for food inspired him to leave Wall Street in 1987 and pursue his dream of opening a luncheonette, Country Roads Café, in South Plainfield, NJ.  He was known for his famous homemade pies and his love of breakfast foods and coffee.  Gene later resumed his career in the financial sector joining UBS Financial Services in Weehawken, NJ, retiring in 2011.  

Gene and Dianne then traveled the world visiting Australia, New Zealand, the Caribbean, Europe and Alaska.  In his later years, Gene shared his passion for trains with his sons, traveling across the country to train museums and shows, and building an extensive model railroad.

Gene had an encyclopedic knowledge of classic country, bluegrass, and early rock, never missing a chance to sing along.  He was a gentle giant who loved the American West, sharing its wide-open spaces brought him a feeling a peace.

Gene was predeceased by his older brother Edward and is survived by his wife, Dianne; his sons, Michael and Brian; his brother Paul; and several nieces, nephews, and grand nieces and nephews. 

Family and friends may attend the visitation to be held in the McCriskin-Gustafson Home for Funerals, 2425 Plainfield Avenue, South Plainfield, NJ 07080 on Sunday, January 18, 2026 from 1pm until 4pm.

A funeral mass will be offered on Monday, January 19, 2026 at 10:00AM at St. Helena Roman Catholic Church, 950 Grove Avenue, Edison. Family and friends are invited to gather at McCriskin-Gustafson Home for Funerals before mass at 8:45am.

The Chmielewski Family welcomes flowers or, if you wish, donations in Gene’s name can be made to St Helena Roman Catholic Church or the UP Railroad Museum.