Steve’s Genealogy Blog

Alexander Skowronski died in 1970, seven years after his wife’s passing.

Certificate of Death for Alexander F. Skowronski

SOURCE: The Commonwealth of Massachusetts. Standard Certificate of Death. City of Worcester. 1970. Volume Unknown. Page 33. Alexander F. Skowronski. Massachusetts Registry of Vital Records and Statistics.

Click on the link for a PDF copy of the Certificate of Death for Alexander F. Skowronski.  The record states:

• Alexander F. Skowronski, of 101 Burbank Road, Sutton, Massachusetts, died in Hahnemann Hospital, Worcester, Worcester Co., Massachusetts on 04 Jan 1970 at 6:35 m
• He died of Cor pulmonale (for years), due to pulmonary fibrosis + emphysema (for years), due to chronic bronchitis and pneumonia (for years and days)
• Another significant condition was inactive tuberculosis
• He had been in his place of residence for 20 years and at his place of death for 1 day before death
• The Medical Certificate of Death was signed by Francis X. Dufault, M.D. of 328 Highland Street on 04 Jan 1970
• Alexander was buried in Notre Dame Cemetery, Worcester on 07 Jan 1970 by Henry Funeral Service by Henry V. Karolkiewicz, 33 Ward Street, Worcester
• The Certificate of Death was received and filed on 05 Jan 1970 by Robert J. O’Keefe
• Alexander was a white male, widower after Frances Dymek
• He was 82 years, 11 months, and 2 days old at death
• He had worked as a molder in a foundry before death
• His Social Security Number was 024-01-8678 A
• He was born in Poland, son of Francis Skowronski and Margaret Podeswa, both born in Poland
• The informant was his daughter, Mrs. Helen F. Danko of 71 Esther St., Worcester, Massachusetts
• On 05 Jan 1970, Arnold Zuruntz, the Commissioner of Public Health, certified that a satisfactory certificate of death was filed

I noticed that the time of death was listed as 6:35 m, with no indication of whether the death occurred in the AM or PM.  I further noticed that the Social Security Number is listed followed by the letter “A”.  I don’t know what this designation means.

Alexander Skowronski’s wife, Frances Dymek, died in 1963.  Her death is reported on a Medical Examiner’s Certificate of Death, indicating that the cause of death required additional investigation.

Certificate of Death for Frances Skowronski

SOURCE: The Commonwealth of Massachusetts. Medical Examiner’s Certificate of Death. City of Worcester. 1963. Volume Unknown. Page 160. Frances Skowronski. Massachusetts Registry of Vital Records and Statistics.

Click on the link for a PDF copy of the Certificate of Death for Frances Skowronski.  The record states:

• Frances Skowronski, of 101 Burbank Road, Sutton, Massachusetts, died in City Hospital, Worcester, Worcester Co., Massachusetts on 22 Jun 1963
• She had been found unconscious in her home and died of coronary artery disease
• She had been in her place of residence for 13 years and at her place of death for 2 hours before death
• The Medical Certificate of Death was signed by Joan O. Ward, M.D. of 978 Main Street on 22 Jun 1963
• Frances was buried in Notre Dame Cemetery, Worcester on 25 Jun 1963 by Henry Funeral Service by Henry V. Karolkiewicz, 33 Ward Street, Worcester
• The Certificate of Death was received and filed on 24 Jun 1963 by Robert J. O’Keefe
• Frances was a white female, married to Alexander F. Skowronski
• Her date of birth is not provided, but she was 73 years old at death
• She had worked as a housewife at home
• Her Social Security Number was 034-20-0574
• She was born in Poland, daughter of Jozef Dymek and Bronislawa Golas, both born in Poland
• The informant was her husband, Alexander Skowronski, of 101 Burbank Road, Sutton, Massachusetts
• On 24 Jun 1963, G. Frank McGinnis, the Commissioner of Public Health certified that a satisfactory certificate of death was filed

I have some questions about the correct spelling of the maiden name of Frances Skowronski’s mother.  This document states the name was Golas, but I had previously been told the name was spelled Golash.  William F. Hoffman’s book Polish Surnames: Origins and Meanings, Second Edition, Revised lists two similar spellings:

Gołas and Gołaś

SOURCE: Hoffman, William F. 1998. Polish surnames : origins and meanings second edition, revised. Chicago: Polish Genealogical Society of America.

Another child of Alexander Skowronski and Frances Dymek buried in Notre Dame Cemetery, Worcester, Massachusetts is Chester S. Skowronski.  He is buried with his wife, Mary A. Pianowski, and his son, Chester R. Skowronski.  Click on the link for a PDF copy of the map of Notre Dame Cemetery.

The Monument for Chester S. Skowronski, Mary A. Pianowski, and Chester R. Skowronski - Front

The Monument for Chester S. Skowronski, Mary A. Pianowski, and Chester R. Skowronski - Back

SOURCE: Chester S. Skowronski, Mary A. Pianowski, and Chester R. Skowronski grave marker, Notre Dame Cemetery, Holy Family Section, Lot 244, Graves 2,3,4 (Worcester County), Massachusetts, photographed by Stephen J. Danko, 09 Sep 2005.

The front of the monument lists the family name: SKOWRONSKI.

The back of the monument reads:

1914 CHESTER S. SKOWRONSKI 2005
HIS WIFE
1920 MARY A. PIANOWSKI 1997

1938 CHESTER R. SKOWRONSKI 2005
HIS WIFE
1941 CAROLE A. FOX

The cemetery record for this lot states:

Notre Dame Cemetery No. 04 - Owner: Skowronski, Mary A., Mrs.

Lot - Sec-HF Lot-244 Grv-1- =================           12 X 11
       UAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA?
       3                            3                           3                          3                           3
       3                            3                           3                          3                           3
       3                            3                            3                         3                           3
       3             4             3              3           3            2           3             1            3
       3                            3                           3                          3                           3
       3                            3                           3                          3                           3
       AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAU
Space  Deceased/Resvd                                 Burial Date       Age    Container
——-   ———————————————       ——————    ——     ————–
1        Skowronski, Carol A., Mrs
2        Skowronski, Chester R., Son               05/28/2005     66
3        Skowronski, Mary A., Owner, wife      01/21/1997     77      MONT
4        Skowronski, Chester S., Mr.                 01/27/2005    90

AAAAAAEnd of ListAAAAAAA

SOURCE: Burial Record, Chester S. Skowronski, Mary A. Pianowski, and Chester R. Skowronski, Holy Family Section, Lot 244, Graves 2,3,4. Notre Dame Cemetery, Worcester, Massachusetts.  

Chester S. Skowronski died on 22 Jan 2005, just a day before my uncle, Frederick Niedzialkowski, who died on 23 Jan 2005.  Frederick’s wife, Janice died a few months later on 05 Apr 2005.  Chester R. Skowronski died the next month, on 22 May 2005.

An interesting point to note:  the owner of this cemetery lot was Mary A. (Pianowski) Skowronski, who was also the first to be buried in the lot.  More often, I’ve seen that the surviving spouse was the owner of the lot.  This lot is an exception.

Benjamin S. Skowronski was married twice.  He is buried with his second wife, Ruth E. Grillo, whose monument and Burial Record I reported yesterday.  Benjamin’s first wife, Mary B. Radzik, died in 1959.  She is buried in a separate grave in Notre Dame Cemetery, Worcester, Massachusetts.  Click on the link for a PDF copy of the map of Notre Dame Cemetery.

Monument for Mary B. Radzik Skowronski - Front

Monument for Mary B. Radzik Skowronski - Back

SOURCE: Mary B. Radzik Skowronski grave marker, Notre Dame Cemetery, Section 25-C, Lot 1032, Grave 2 (Worcester County), Massachusetts, photographed by Stephen J. Danko, 09 Sep 2005.

The front of the monument lists the family name: SKOWRONSKI and the Polish inscription ”PROSZE O ZDROWAS MARJA” which means “I ask for a Hail Mary”.

The back of the monument reads:

BENJAMIN S. SKOWRONSKI
1910 - 1998
HIS WIFE
MARY B. RADZIK
1918 - 1959

The cemetery record for this lot states:

Notre Dame Cemetery No. 02 - Owner: Skowronski, Alexander, Mr.

Lot - Sec-25 Lot-1032 Grv-1 =================  6 X 10
              UAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA?
              3                                          3                                            3
              3                                          3                                            3
              3                                          3                                            3
              3                   2                     3                   1                      3
              3                                          3                                            3
              3                                          3                                            3
              3                                          3                                            3
              AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAU
Space  Deceased/Resvd                                 Burial Date       Age    Container
——-   ———————————————       ——————    ——     ————–
1    Reserved
2    Skowronski, Mary B., Daughter-in-la    02/10/1959     42       WHITE

AAAEnd of ListAAA

SOURCE: Burial Record, Mary B. Radzik, Section 25-C, Lot 1032, Grave 2. Notre Dame Cemetery, Worcester, Massachusetts. 

This situation, where one person is listed on two monuments, is not uncommon when one spouse dies and the other remarries.  In a case such as the one illustrated here, where Benjamin’s birth and death are listed on both monuments, one may not be able to determine in which grave an individual is actually buried without examining the cemetery records.

In Benjamin’s case, the cemetery records show that he is buried with his second wife, Ruth Grillo.

Benjamin S. Skowronski, Sr. and his second wife, Ruth E. Grillo, are buried in Notre Dame Cemetery, Worcester, Massachusetts.  The grave is located in the St. Mark Section, Lot 107, Graves 1 and 2.  Click on the link for a PDF copy of the map of Notre Dame Cemetery.

Monument for Benjamin S. Skowronski, Sr. and Ruth E. Grillo - Front

Monument for Benjamin S. Skowronski, Sr. and Ruth E. Grillo - Back

SOURCE: Benjamin S. Skowronski, Sr. and Ruth E. Grillo grave marker, Notre Dame Cemetery, Section St. Mark, Lot 107, Graves 1, 2 (Worcester County), Massachusetts, photographed by Stephen J. Danko, 09 Sep 2005.

The front of the monument lists the family name: SKOWRONSKI.

The back of the monument reads:

BENJAMIN S.
SKOWRONSKI SR.
1910-1998
HIS WIFE
RUTH E.
GRILLO
1926-2000

The cemetery record for this lot states:

Notre Dame Cemetery No. 04 - Owner: Skowronski, Ruth E., Mrs.

Lot - Sec-SMARK Lot-107 Grv =================  12 X 10 1/2
       UAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA?
       3                            3                           3                          3                           3
       3                            3                           3                          3                           3
       3                            3                           3                         3                            3
       3             4             3              3           3            2           3             1            3
       3                            3                           3                          3                           3
       3                            3                           3                          3                           3
       AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAU
Space  Deceased/Resvd                                 Burial Date       Age    Container
——-   ———————————————       ——————    ——     ————–
1        Skowronski, Benjamin S., Sr.               11/10/1998   88     PLANTE
2        Skowronski, Ruth, Wife                        12/21/2000   74     PLANTE
3
4

AAAAAAEnd of ListAAAAAAA

SOURCE: Burial Record, Benjamin S. Skowronski, Sr. and Ruth Grillo, St. Mark Section, Lot 107, Graves 1-4. Notre Dame Cemetery, Worcester, Massachusetts.

My experience in obtaining cemetery records varies from cemetery to cemetery, but generally I’ve been able to obtain burial records and other cemetery records on file.  Occasionally, a cemetery has asked for a photocopying fee.  Once, a cemetery asked for a donation of five dollars per record.  Some cemeteries would not provide a copy of the records at all.

Notre Dame Cemetery was helpful in providing computer printouts of their records at no charge, but they would only provide a few records while I waited.  When I requested a large number of records at one time, they preferred to search and print the records at their convenience and mail the records to me at a later date.  Once, they even provided me with a photocopy of the original, hand-written records when I had a question about the accuracy of the computer record.

The sixth child of Alexander Skowronski and Frances Dymek was named Jenettie (Jean).  She was born in Worcester, Worcester County, Massachusetts.  Her birth is recorded on a Copy of Record of Birth, a copy of which I obtained from the Massachusetts Department of Vital Records and Statistics.

The Birth Record for Jean Skowronski

SOURCE: The Commonwealth of Massachusetts. Copy of Record of Birth. City of Worcester. 1917. Jenettie Skowronski. Volume 642, Page 585, Registered Number 1388. Massachusetts Registry of Vital Records and Statistics.

Click on the link for a PDF copy of the Birth Record for Jean Skowronski.  The record shows that:

• Jenettie Skowronski was a female child of single birth born in Worcester, Massachusetts on 31 Mar 1917
• Her birth is recorded in Volume 642, Page 585, Registered Number 1388 of the Register of Births for the City of Worcester for the year 1917
• Her mother was Frances Skowronski, maiden name Frances Dymek, born in Poland and residing in Worcester, Massachusetts
• Her father was Alexander Skowronski, a laborer born in Poland
• The birth was recorded in Jan 1918

Although the child’s name was Jenettie at birth, she used the name Jean for most of her life.

The seventh child of Alexander Skowronski and Frances Dymek was named Francis.  He was born in Worcester, Worcester County, Massachusetts.  His birth is recorded on page 102 of the Birth Register, a copy of which I obtained from the Massachusetts Department of Vital Records and Statistics.

The Birth Record for Francis Skowronski

SOURCE: The Commonwealth of Massachusetts. Return of a Birth. City of Worcester, 1919. Francis Skowronski. Volume Unknown, Page 102, Registered Number 3930. Massachusetts Registry of Vital Records and Statistics.

Click on the link for a PDF copy of the Birth Record for Francis Skowronski.  The record states:

• Francis Skowrouski was a male child born alive at 16 Dorchester Street, Worcester, Worcester Co., Massachusetts on 26 Oct 1919
• His father was Alexander Skowrouski, a 32 year-old, white laborer born in Poland and residing at 16 Dorchester Street, Worcester
• His mother was Frances Dymek, a 32 year-old, white housewife born in Poland and residing at 16 Dorchester Street, Worcester
• S. C. Mieczkowksi, M.D. of 8 Richland Street, Worcester personally attended the birth
• The Return of a Birth was received at the office of the city clerk on 27 Oct 1919 as attested by W. Henry Towne, Registrar

Note that the surname of Francis and his father is spelled as Skowrouski, not Skowronski.  The mother’s name is correctly spelled as Dymek.

The Skowronskis lived at 16 Dorchester Street at this time, just a block from the address of the physician who attended the birth.  Both addresses were close to the addresses of many other families whose children would later marry the Skowronski children.

The area where the Skowronskis lived was the Polish neighborhood on the east side of Worcester, known as “The Island”.  St. Mary’s Church, the Polish parish now known as Our Lady of Częstochowa Church, was just about a block away from the Skowronskis’ residence.

The third child of Alexander Skowronski and Frances Dymek was named Benjamin.  He was born in Worcester, Worcester County, Massachusetts.  His birth is recorded on line 3540 of the Birth Register, which I found on the website of the New England Historic Genealogical Society.

The Birth Record for Benjamin Skowronski

SOURCE: The Commonwealth of Massachusetts. Births Registered in the City of Worcester for the Year 1910. Benjamin Soborowski. Volume 592, Page 553, Number 3540. http://www.newenglandancestors.org.

Click on the link for a PDF copy of the Birth Record for Benjamin Skowronski.  The record states that:

• Bennie Soborowski, a male child, was born in May 1910 in Worcester
• His birth was recorded on line 3540 of page 553 of volume 592 of the Birth Register for the City of Worcester for the year 1910 and was entered in the register in Jan 1911
• His father was Alek, a laborer born in Russia Poland
• His mother was Frances Demek, born in Russia Poland
• His parents’ residence was in Worcester

This record is unusual in that the surname for Bennie is Soborowski, which is the surname for his father’s stepfather.  Even though the birth records for the two children born before Bennie show the Skowronski surname, this record shows Soborowski.

The actual date of birth is not given.  Only the month and year are provided.

The second child of Alexander Skowronski and Frances Dymek was named Alexander.  He was born in Pittsfield, Berkshire County, Massachusetts.  His birth is recorded on line 510 of the Birth Register, which I found on the website of the New England Historic Genealogical Society.

The Birth Record for Alexander Skowronski

SOURCE: The Commonwealth of Massachusetts. Births Registered in the City of Pittsfield for the Year 1908. Alexander Skowronski. Volume 574, Page 123, Number 510. http://www.newenglandancestors.org.

Click on the link for a PDF copy of the Birth Record for Alexander Skowronski.  The record states that:

• Alexander Skowronsky, a male child, was born on 24 Aug 1908 at 13 Waconah Street, Pittsfield
• His birth was recorded on line 510 of page 123 of volume 574 of the Birth Register for the City of Pittsfield for the year 1908 and was entered in the register on 15 Sep 1908
• His father was Alexander Skowronsky, a laborer born in Poland
• His mother was Frances Dimeck, born in Poland
• His parents’ residence was 13 Waconah Street, Pittsfield

As is typical for the Vital Records Registers for Massachusetts for this period of time, there are a number of names spelled in ways that don’t agree with later records:

• Alexander Skowronsky = Alexander Skowronski
• Frances Dimeck = Frances Dymek
• Waconah St = Wahconah St

It took me a while to figure out the name of the street where Alexander was born.  To figure out the correct spelling of the name, I went to Stephen Morse’s website and explored the 1910-1940 Census Street Finder: Obtaining Streets in the 1910 to 1940 Census in One Step.

After choosing the 1930 census for Pittsfield, Massachusetts, I looked at the street names listed for each Enumeration District.  There, I found the name Wahconah Street, which I then checked out a MapQuest.

The fifth child of Alexander Skowronski and Frances Dymek was Chester Skowronski, born in 1914.  The records for 1914 are available on microfilm at the Massachusetts State Archives and at the New England Historic Genealogical Society (NEHGS).  Unfortunately the Massachusetts Vital Records 1911-1915 are not yet available online at the NEHGS website.  The Birth Certificate I have was generated in 2005 at the Massachusetts Registry of Vital Records and Statistics, although the records for 1914 are no longer available from that agency.

Copy of Record of Birth for Chester Skowronski

SOURCE: The Commonwealth of Massachusetts. Births Registered in the City of Worcester for the Year 1914. Chester Skowronski. Volume 624, Page 641, Number 4165. The Massachusetts Registry of Vital Records and Statistics.

Click on the link for a PDF copy of the Copy of Record of Birth for Chester Skowronski.  The record shows that:

• Cheslow Skowronski, a male child, was born on 17 Dec 1914 in Worcester, Massachusetts
• His mother was Franciska Dimek who was born in Russia Poland and lived in Worcester, Massachusetts
• His father was Alexsandra Skowronski, occupation Moulder, who was born in Russia Poland
• The event was recorded in Jan 1915 as Reg. No. 4165, Vol. 624, Page 641

Although listed as Cheslow on the certificate, the child used the name Chester throughout life.