CHICOPEE — Agnes Sliwa of Chicopee, died on January 2 with her loving daughters and caregivers, Carol and Susan, and longtime family friend, Raymond Lamont of Gloucester, at her bedside.
Agnes was born in Westfield within 24 hours of her husband, Bronislaw, in Chicopee. They suffered the heartbreak of losing a beloved son, Stephen, aged 16, in 1971. Agnes dearly missed her son and her husband, who died in 1983.
She was the youngest child of John and Aniela Organek. Her twin, Elizabeth, died shortly after birth. Brothers Anthony, Edward and Chester and her sisters, Sophie, Anna Oleksak and Helen Popko, also predeceased her. Agnes grew up in Westfield, where she attended Holy Trinity School and Westfield High School. She was a favorite of the nuns as a public speaker due to her impeccably fluent Polish, strong voice and excellence in school.
Prior to marriage, Agnes worked at Stevens Paper Mill in Westfield and F.W. Sickles Co. in Chicopee and displayed her comedic talents at church-sponsored vaudeville shows. However, she spent most of her life as a fastidious homemaker and extraordinary, devoted and selfless mom. She was a great storyteller and exuded a sense of fun. She loved music, especially Perry Como and the Ray Henry Orchestra. Agnes was a fan of PGA golf, the Red Sox, Patriots, NBC news, Seinfeld, The Tonight Show, Regis & Kelly, Judge Judy and The Price Is Right.
She enjoyed crossword puzzles, ceramics, trips with the local senior travel club and lunches with the retirees’ club of her husband’s employer, Uniroyal. She was a communicant of St. Anthony of Padua Parish in Chicopee.
Her daughters cherish the blessing of caring for their mother for many years. They encourage all to share in the lives of their elder loved ones as much as possible and to perform random acts of kindness for seniors in need of tender loving care.
ARRANGEMENTS: Calling hours will be Saturday, January 12, from 9-10:30 a.m. at Kozikowski Funeral Home, 565 Front St., Chicopee, followed by a Mass of Christian Burial at 11 a.m. at St. Anthony’s church, 56 St. Anthony St., Chicopee, and burial at St. Stanislaus Cemetery, 800 Montgomery St., Chicopee.
