Obituary for Stella R. Krzys
Stella (Dzwonkus) Krzys, 98, passed away on October 26, 2022 at the Uconn Health Center. She was a resident of New Hartford.
Stella was born on April 9, 1924 on a small farm in Somersville, Connecticut and lived there with her parents, Anthony Dzwonkus and his wife Eva (Kareski) Dzwonkus, both immigrants from Lithuania, along with her brothers, Lawrence and Anthony and her sister, Lenore.
She graduated from Rockville High School in 1942 where she excelled in business studies. At that time, she met her future husband, Stanley Krzys, and they married when he returned home from the war in 1946. She and Stanley lived on the farm until 1999 when he died.
Stella was employed as an Executive Secretary to the Vice President of Debell and Richardson, a consulting firm in nearby Hazardville. Later, she held the same position at Springborn Laboratories a firm that bought Debell and Richardson and worked for the president, Dr. Robert Springborn. All told, she worked over 45 years for the two companies.
Stanley, a machinist, and Stella kept up the farm in addition to their full time jobs. Through their work, it was a beautiful place to live and the raising of animals and crops gave them great pleasure. As parents and grandparents, Stanley and Stella were a consistent presence in the lives of their son, Robert, and their granddaughter, Emily. They supported them at every turn including seeing to it that they each had the resources to pursue their educational goals.
When Stanley died, Stella moved to the Abbewood Condominium property in Enfield where she met and made many great friends. She was often referred to as the Mayor of Abbewood as she tended to all the common areas along with her friends. Recently, she moved to New Hartford to be close to her son Robert Krzys and daughter in law Karin Schneider.
She was a member of the congregation at All Saints Church in Somersville for many years playing an active role in the Ladies Guild and the Caring Ministry. She was especially proud of her role in organizing a Seder dinner in the church basement which drew over 125 people to learn and appreciate a tradition of the Jewish faith.
After her retirement, she demonstrated her care and concern for others by volunteering to deliver Meals on Wheels often to people younger than her. She also volunteered as a teacher's aide in the Enfield Public Schools helping to educate elementary school children. Stella also worked for many years as an election monitor in Enfield. She understood how important voting was and she never missed a vote.
These community activities brought her great joy.
Along the way, she was an avid fan of both the New York Yankees and the Uconn women’s teams watching and attending the games. She was a bit of a gambler and often visited Mohegan Sun with friends or with her granddaughter Emily. Her success at the slots was incredible!
She was predeceased by Stanley, her husband of 52 years, her brothers Anthony Dzwonkus and Lawrence Dzwonkus her sister Lenore O’Hagan and two nieces, Mary Ellen Moran and Jane Erickson, who she regularly kept in touch with and loved.
Stella is survived by her son, Robert Krzys of New Hartford and his spouse, Karin Schneider, and by her granddaughter Emily Schneider-Krzys of Austin, Texas, who she adored from the moment Emily was born. She is also survived by her nieces, Joyce Cote of Dahlonega, Georgia, Jean Hollander of Agawam, Massachusetts, and by Kathy Krzys of Gainesville, Florida and by two nephews, Lawrence Dzwonkus, Jr. of Kingsport, Tennessee and John Dzwonkus of Somers, Connecticut. Stella is also survived by two grand nieces, Sophia Krzys Acord of Gainesville, Florida and Kate Moran of Toronto, Canada and two grand nephews, John Erickson of Cincinnati, Ohio and Clayton Erickson of Massillon, Ohio.
Stella and her family want to thank the wonderful caregivers of Amy’s Angels for their companionship and friendship over the last few years.
A Funeral Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 11:00 AM Saturday, November 12, 2022 at All Saints Church, 25 School Street in Somersville, Connecticut. Burial will be private and at the convenience of the family.
Donations in memory of Stella can be made to All Saint’s Church, 25 School Street, Somersville, CT 06072 or by mail to St Jude Children’s Research Hospital, P.O. Box 1000, Dept. 142, Memphis, TN 38148-0142 or by going to StJude.org and clicking donate.
The Vincent Funeral Home of Canton is caring for the arrangements. Please visit Stella’s Book of Memories at www.vincentfuneralhome.com for online tributes.
Stella was born on April 9, 1924 on a small farm in Somersville, Connecticut and lived there with her parents, Anthony Dzwonkus and his wife Eva (Kareski) Dzwonkus, both immigrants from Lithuania, along with her brothers, Lawrence and Anthony and her sister, Lenore.
She graduated from Rockville High School in 1942 where she excelled in business studies. At that time, she met her future husband, Stanley Krzys, and they married when he returned home from the war in 1946. She and Stanley lived on the farm until 1999 when he died.
Stella was employed as an Executive Secretary to the Vice President of Debell and Richardson, a consulting firm in nearby Hazardville. Later, she held the same position at Springborn Laboratories a firm that bought Debell and Richardson and worked for the president, Dr. Robert Springborn. All told, she worked over 45 years for the two companies.
Stanley, a machinist, and Stella kept up the farm in addition to their full time jobs. Through their work, it was a beautiful place to live and the raising of animals and crops gave them great pleasure. As parents and grandparents, Stanley and Stella were a consistent presence in the lives of their son, Robert, and their granddaughter, Emily. They supported them at every turn including seeing to it that they each had the resources to pursue their educational goals.
When Stanley died, Stella moved to the Abbewood Condominium property in Enfield where she met and made many great friends. She was often referred to as the Mayor of Abbewood as she tended to all the common areas along with her friends. Recently, she moved to New Hartford to be close to her son Robert Krzys and daughter in law Karin Schneider.
She was a member of the congregation at All Saints Church in Somersville for many years playing an active role in the Ladies Guild and the Caring Ministry. She was especially proud of her role in organizing a Seder dinner in the church basement which drew over 125 people to learn and appreciate a tradition of the Jewish faith.
After her retirement, she demonstrated her care and concern for others by volunteering to deliver Meals on Wheels often to people younger than her. She also volunteered as a teacher's aide in the Enfield Public Schools helping to educate elementary school children. Stella also worked for many years as an election monitor in Enfield. She understood how important voting was and she never missed a vote.
These community activities brought her great joy.
Along the way, she was an avid fan of both the New York Yankees and the Uconn women’s teams watching and attending the games. She was a bit of a gambler and often visited Mohegan Sun with friends or with her granddaughter Emily. Her success at the slots was incredible!
She was predeceased by Stanley, her husband of 52 years, her brothers Anthony Dzwonkus and Lawrence Dzwonkus her sister Lenore O’Hagan and two nieces, Mary Ellen Moran and Jane Erickson, who she regularly kept in touch with and loved.
Stella is survived by her son, Robert Krzys of New Hartford and his spouse, Karin Schneider, and by her granddaughter Emily Schneider-Krzys of Austin, Texas, who she adored from the moment Emily was born. She is also survived by her nieces, Joyce Cote of Dahlonega, Georgia, Jean Hollander of Agawam, Massachusetts, and by Kathy Krzys of Gainesville, Florida and by two nephews, Lawrence Dzwonkus, Jr. of Kingsport, Tennessee and John Dzwonkus of Somers, Connecticut. Stella is also survived by two grand nieces, Sophia Krzys Acord of Gainesville, Florida and Kate Moran of Toronto, Canada and two grand nephews, John Erickson of Cincinnati, Ohio and Clayton Erickson of Massillon, Ohio.
Stella and her family want to thank the wonderful caregivers of Amy’s Angels for their companionship and friendship over the last few years.
A Funeral Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 11:00 AM Saturday, November 12, 2022 at All Saints Church, 25 School Street in Somersville, Connecticut. Burial will be private and at the convenience of the family.
Donations in memory of Stella can be made to All Saint’s Church, 25 School Street, Somersville, CT 06072 or by mail to St Jude Children’s Research Hospital, P.O. Box 1000, Dept. 142, Memphis, TN 38148-0142 or by going to StJude.org and clicking donate.
The Vincent Funeral Home of Canton is caring for the arrangements. Please visit Stella’s Book of Memories at www.vincentfuneralhome.com