Obituary for Maria (Zuryk) Wolczak
Maria Zuryk Wolczak, 95 of Columbia passed peacefully to Heaven with her family at her side on Saturday May 24.
Maria was born on December 9, 1918 in Bayonne, New Jersey, the daughter of Russian parents Alexander and Olga Zuryk.Â
While still a toddler Maria and her family moved to Columbia, Ct. She entered 1st grade at the one-room Pine Street School speaking no English.
She graduated from Windham High School in 1938.
She was an accomplished accordionist and played in many musical groups including The Corn Huskers and a 9-piece band called Walter Wolczak Orchestra. The band played big band style with orchestrations and had performances in many night clubs and on radio stations.
During World War II, Maria worked at Pratt & Whitney, Sikorsky, and Electro Motive Corporation.Â
Maria was a member of the Paints and Palettes Club in Willimantic and numerous paintings of Maria’s took prizes and were displayed on the walls of local banks. She enjoyed playing her accordion, planting flowers, cooking homemade Russian and Polish meals as well as spending time with her children.Â
Maria spent the last couple of years with wonderful care at Douglas Manor.
Maria was predeceased by her husband Walter Wolczak, her brother John Zuryk and sister Anne Zuryk Rambush. She is survived by her daughters Cheryl Shifrin and her husband Chick, Karen Kearns Kelly and her husband Tom. Three grand-children Katie Kearns Torres and her husband Gaviel, Sean Shifrin and Kayla Kearns. Two great grand-children, Alina Torres and Gaviel Torres Jr. Her family will receive relatives and friends Saturday, 5/31/14, from 9:30 to 10:30 a.m. at the Bacon Funeral Home, 71 Prospect St. Willimantic followed by a procession to St. Joseph Cemetery, Club Rd. Windham for her Graveside Service.
In Lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the Douglas Manor recreation fund, 103 North Rd. Windham, CT 06280.
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Maria was born on December 9, 1918 in Bayonne, New Jersey, the daughter of Russian parents Alexander and Olga Zuryk.Â
While still a toddler Maria and her family moved to Columbia, Ct. She entered 1st grade at the one-room Pine Street School speaking no English.
She graduated from Windham High School in 1938.
She was an accomplished accordionist and played in many musical groups including The Corn Huskers and a 9-piece band called Walter Wolczak Orchestra. The band played big band style with orchestrations and had performances in many night clubs and on radio stations.
During World War II, Maria worked at Pratt & Whitney, Sikorsky, and Electro Motive Corporation.Â
Maria was a member of the Paints and Palettes Club in Willimantic and numerous paintings of Maria’s took prizes and were displayed on the walls of local banks. She enjoyed playing her accordion, planting flowers, cooking homemade Russian and Polish meals as well as spending time with her children.Â
Maria spent the last couple of years with wonderful care at Douglas Manor.
Maria was predeceased by her husband Walter Wolczak, her brother John Zuryk and sister Anne Zuryk Rambush. She is survived by her daughters Cheryl Shifrin and her husband Chick, Karen Kearns Kelly and her husband Tom. Three grand-children Katie Kearns Torres and her husband Gaviel, Sean Shifrin and Kayla Kearns. Two great grand-children, Alina Torres and Gaviel Torres Jr. Her family will receive relatives and friends Saturday, 5/31/14, from 9:30 to 10:30 a.m. at the Bacon Funeral Home, 71 Prospect St. Willimantic followed by a procession to St. Joseph Cemetery, Club Rd. Windham for her Graveside Service.
In Lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the Douglas Manor recreation fund, 103 North Rd. Windham, CT 06280.
To plant a tree in memory of Maria (Zuryk) Wolczak, visit the Tribute Store.
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