Steve’s Genealogy Blog

My uncle, Michael J. Danko, died in 1981 from prostate cancer.

The Death Record of Michael J. Danko, Jr.

SOURCE: The Commonwealth of Massachusetts. Registry of Vital Records and Statistics. Standard Certificate of Death. City of Worcester. 1981. Volume Unknown. Page 50576. Michael J. Danko.

Click on the link for a PDF copy of the Death Record of Michael J. Danko.  The records states:

• Michael J. Danko, a white male, died on 19 Nov 1981 in his home at 15 Marion Avenue, Worcester, Worcester County, Massachusetts
• His Social Security Number was 034-09-2107, he was a veteran of WWII
• Michael was 68 years old at the time of death; he was born 13 Sep 1913 in Worcester, Massachusetts
• He was married to Jean B. Skowronski; he was a carpenter in the carpentry industry, and he lived at 15 Marion Avenue, Worcester, Worcester County, Massachusetts 01604
• His father was Michael Danko and his mother was Mary Dziwrzynski, both born in Poland
• The informant was Michael’s wife, Jean B. Skowronski, of 15 Marion Avenue, Worcester, Worcester County, Massachusetts 01604
• Michael was buried in Notre Dame Cemetery, Worcester, Massachusetts on 21 Nov 1981 by Henry V. Karolkiewicz of the Henry Funeral Service, 33 Ward Street, Worcester, Massachusetts
• Michael died within 5 minutes of cardiopulmonary arrest due to uremia from which he suffered for 3 years, due to prostatic cancer from which he suffered for 8 years
• No autopsy was performed and the case was not referred to the medical examiner
• Michael’s death was certified on 19 Nov 1981 at 6 AM by Howard J. Alfred, M.D. of 119 Belmont Street, Worcester, Massachusetts 01605
• The Burial Permit was issued 19 Sep 1981 by Arnold Gurwitz, MD, the Commissioner of Public Health
• The Death Certificate was received and filed in the city of Worcester by Robert J. O’Keefe on 20 Nov 1981

Michael Danko’s Death Certificate shows that he was a veteran of World War II.  During that war, he served as a Shipfitter First Class in the United States Navy.

My uncle, Joseph J. Danko, died on 05 Jul 1991 after being stricken on the Fourth of July.

The Death Record for Joseph J. Danko

SOURCE: The Commonwealth of Massachusetts. Registry of Vital Records and Statistics.
Standard Certificate of Death. City of Worcester. 1991. Volume Unknown. Page 35891. Joseph J. Danko.

Click on the link for a PDF copy of the Death Record for Joseph J. Danko.  The record states that:

• Joseph J. Danko, a white male, died on 05 Jul 1991 in the ER at the Med. Center of Central Mass.-Hahnemann
• His Social Security Number was 027-09-9649, he was a veteran of WWII
• Joseph was 71 years old at the time of death; he was born 02 Sep 1919 in Worcester, Massachusetts
• He was a Tool & Die Maker for a Tool & Die Mfg.
• His father was Michael Danko and his mother was Mary Dziwrzynski, both born in Poland
• Joseph was buried in Notre Dame Cemetery, Worcester, Massachusetts on 08 Jul 1991 by Henry V. Karolkiewicz, license # 4555 of the Henry Funeral Service, 33 Ward St., Worcester, MA 01610
• Joseph died within hours of myocardial infarction due to coronary artery disease, hypercholesterolemia, and hypertension; he suffered from all three complications for years
• No autopsy was performed, although the case was referred to the medical examiner; his death was declared natural
• Joe’s death occurred on 05 Jul 1991 at 5:58 AM, as certified by Bruce McNully, MD of 281 Lincoln St., Worcester, whose license number was 58559
• The attending physician was Sr. Samuel Said
• The Burial Permit was issued 08 Jul 1991 by Arnold Gurwitz, MD, the Commissioner of Public Health
• The Death Certificate was received in the city of Worcester by Robert J. O’Keefe on 08 Jul 1991

I tried to confirm the spellings of the surnames of the the attending physician and the certifying physican on the Death Certificate by searching for their names online.  Unfortunately, I couldn’t find a convenient way to verify the spellings of their surnames.  One could be McNully or McNally or McNulty.  The other looks like Said or Saiu.

The ninth child of Michael Dańko and Marianna Dziurzyńska was named Joseph.  He was born in Worcester, Worcester County, Massachusetts.  His birth is recorded on page 430 of the Birth Register for the City of Worcester for the year 1919, a copy of which I obtained from the Massachusetts Department of Vital Records and Statistics.

Canvasser’s Return of a Birth for Joseph Danko

SOURCE: The Commonwealth of Massachusetts. Return of a Birth. City of Worcester. 1919. Joseph Danko. Volume Unknown, Page 430, Registered Number 3183. Massachusetts Registry of Vital Records And Statistics.

Click on the link for a PDF copy of the Canvasser’s Return of a Birth for Joseph Danko.  The record states that:

• Joseph Danko was a male child born alive at 19 Prescott Place, Worcester, Worcester Co., Massachusetts on 02 Sep 1919
• His father was Michael Danko, a 43 year-old, white wiredrawer born in Poland and residing at 19 Prescott Place, Worcester
• His mother was Mary Guginski, a 38 year-old, white woman, no occupation listed, born in Poland and residing at 19 Prescott Place, Worcester
• Katie Tutudar personally attended the birth, no further information provided
• The name of the canvasser and the date the return was obtained were not provided
• The Canvasser’s Return of a Birth was filed in Jan 1920 as attested by W. Henry Towne, Registrar

The Canvasser’s Return of a Birth was used to record Joseph Danko’s birth because he was born at home and the birth had not been previously recorded.

The name of Joseph’s mother is listed as Mary Guginski.  Nearly every document spells Mary’s name differently.  Other documents list her first name as Maria, Marya or Marianna, and list her surname as Dziura, Dziurzynski, Dziurzyńska, Dziurznska, Ginsky, Dzevirzynska, Jusuka, Dzuizynski, Dziwrzynski, Durzinski, and Dzinski.  Whew!

While searching the Massachusetts Vital Records on the New England Historic Genealogical Society (NEHGS) today, I found this record for the marriage of Matthew Emilian and Władysława Dymek.  The parents of Władysława Dymek are very similar to those for Frances Dymek, the wife of Alexander Skowroński, leading me to think that Władysława and Frances were sisters.  In addition, the time and place, 1910 in Worcester, Massachusetts, is correct for the family I’m researching.

The Marriage Record for Matthew Emilian and Władysława Dymek

SOURCE: The Commonwealth of Massachusetts. Marriages Registered in the City of Worcester for the Year 1910. Volume 596, Page 503, No. 469. Matthew Emilian and Vladislava Dymek. http://www.newenglandancestors.org.

Click on the link for a PDF copy of the Marriage Record for Matthew Emilian and Władysława Dymek.  The record states that:

• The marriage was recorded in Volume 596, Page 503, Number 469 of the marriage registers for the city of Worcester, Massachusetts in 1910
• Matthew Emilian, age 23, residing in Worcester and working as a Laborer, was born in Russia-Poland, the son of Matthew Emilian and Rose Seniuki
• Vladislava Dymek, age 22 residing in Worcester and working as an Operative in a Woolen Mill, was born in Russia-Poland, the daughter of Joseph Dymek and Brovislava Goralgolasz
• The couple was married on 30 May 1910 by P. C. Reding, a Priest in Worcester
• This was the first marriage for each of them
• The marriage was recorded on 02 Jun 1910

Aside from the spelling errors commonly seen in these records, the only difference between the parents of Frances Dymek and Władysława Dymek is that Frances’ mother’s maiden name was Golash and Władysława’s mother’s maiden name was Goralgolasz.  There are certainly people in Poland today with the surname Golasz, but not with Golash or Goralgolasz.

As for the spelling errors in the first names, Vladislava should be spelled Władysława, and Brovislava should be spelled Bronisława.

After finding this marriage record on the NEHGS website, I searched for the couple on Ancestry.com but I could find no trace of either of them in any record on that website.

Józefa Skowrońska, the daughter of Franciszek Skowroński and Małgorzata Podeszwa, married Czesław Pszczółkowski in 1908 in Gardner, Massachusetts.

The Marriage Record for Józefa Skowrońska and Czesław Pszczółkowski

SOURCE: The Commonwealth of Massachusetts. Marriages Registered in the Town of Gardner for the Year 1908. Volume 580, Page 311, No. 90. Czesław Pszczółkowski and Józefa Skowrońska. http://www.newenglandancestors.org.

Click on the link for a PDF copy of the Marriage Record for Józefa Skowrońska and Czesław Pszczółkowski.  The record states that:

• The marriage was recorded in Volume 580, Page 311, Number 90 of the marriage registers for the town of Gardner, Massachusetts in 1908
• Azislaw Psczilkowski, age 21, residing in Gardner and working as a Sander, was born in Russia, the son of John Psczilkowski and Julija Korder
• Jozefa Skoweronska, age 17 residing in Gardner and working as a Weaver, was born in Russia, the daughter of Kazimierz Skoweronska and Adela Podeska
• The couple was married on 26 Oct 1908 by John F. McDermott, a Roman Catholic Clergyman in Gardner
• This was the first marriage for each of them
• The marriage was recorded on 27 Oct 1908

As I’ve often found in these hundred-year-old vital records from Massachusetts, this record includes a number of errors:

• Azislaw Psczilkowski should be spelled Czesław Pszczółkowski
• Jozefa Skoweronska should be spelled Józefa Skowrońska
• John Psczilkowski should be spelled Jan Pszczółkowski
• Julija Korder should be spelled Julianna [Kordek?]
• Kazmierz Skoweronska should be Franciszek Skowroński
• Adela Podeska should be [Małgorzata?] Podeszwa

All other records I have for the Skowroński family indicate that the given name of Józefa’s father should be Franciszek, not Kazmierz.  Józefa’s mother should probably be Małgorzata, not Adela, although most records show her name anglicized to Margrette.

Why would the names of Józefa’s parents be so far off?  Perhaps one reason is that both of her parents were deceased at the time of her marriage.  Her father died when she was very young and her mother died earlier in 1908.  In addition, Józefa was only 17 years old when she was married.  Perhaps Józefa simply didn’t know the correct names of her parents.

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.

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.