Blessed Sacrament Cathedral parishioner volunteers to spread joy with traditional, ethnic Christmas Carols

By Melissa Williams Brown
Contributing Writer

GREENSBURG – Early on when Stella Bossert was just 4 years old, she knew she wanted to follow in her maternal and musically inclined grandfather’s (David Dombrowski) footsteps to share a rare gift known as Koledy, or traditional ethnic Christmas carols that touch many hearts and bring back family memories in our ethnic Catholic communities.

Bossert is volunteering her time alongside her grandfather, who she lovingly calls “Pap” and who is now 77, this upcoming holiday season. They will spread the joy of Koledy with dates and times to be arranged.

Bossert wants to give back to the community and, as a member of St. Lucy’s Auxiliary to the Blind, is also working on community-based passion projects to spread joy during the holiday season, and will volunteer with her grandfather.

“The mission of St. Lucy’s Auxiliary to the Blind is to encourage and inspire a lifetime commitment of volunteer service in young women,” according to its web site.

“This tradition that few teens are blessed with touches so many hearts and brings back family memories in ethnic, Catholic communities,” said Bossert, who has been a competitive dancer and played the violin since she was 2 years old. She credits her grandfather for teaching her so much that she will carry on for a lifetime.

“It is very special. Music has always been part of my family,” said Bossert, who learned how to play the violin at Duquesne University in Pittsburgh at a young age.

Dombrowski, 77, an active and well known musician in the Polish community who trained with the Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra at a young age, has passed down his gift of Koledy to his granddaughter.

Bossert, now 17, is a junior at Hempfield Area High School and a parishioner of Blessed Sacrament Cathedral in Greensburg. Though she learned about and listened to Koledy as a little girl, she continues to introduce Koledy to others and follow in her grandfather’s footsteps.

“Listening to my grandfather entertain people for years has always appealed to me and warmed my heart. My birthdays and holidays have always been filled with extra joy because of our family traditions,” said Bossert, who was introduced to Koledy at a young age, playing alongside her grandfather.

Bossert said she realizes what an “incredibly special gift she has been given” and how lucky she is to carry on the traditions to spread during the holiday season.

Her charitable works extend beyond the classroom and multiple activities in which she participates.

Bossert has acquired 50 service hours for St. Lucy’s Auxiliary to the Blind for the community-based passion project. She’ll need to acquire 50 more hours. She organized charitable events like blood drives and a Halloween event for children.

Bossert’s siblings are also musically talented, including her twin brothers, Max and Beau Bossert. Their brother, Leo, 10, plays alto sax and is taking piano lessons.

Dombrowski’s paternal family members are also musically inclined. He had two cousins, one that was in the Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra and another in the Baltimore Symphony Orchestra.

Dombrowski was trained by Catholic school teachers who played in the Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra. 

Dombrowski, who went to Catholic school in Pittsburgh, started playing the accordion and took lessons from Joseph Zarnich when he was 5 years old in Duquesne and on the South Side of Pittsburgh. His  paternal uncle and two cousins are in the Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra.

Even during the pandemic, Stella and her grandfather realized they had a special gift when they were zooming and face timing to many followers.

Stella and her grandfather are volunteering their time by entertaining this holiday season. Booking can be done by calling 724-953-6298. Information can also be found on the Family Koledy Facebook page. The Koledy family will be volunteering their time.