The Marriage of Czesław Pszczółkowski and Józefa Skowrońska

Posted on March 10, 2007 by Steve

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

The Marriage Record for Czeslaw Pszczolkowski and Jozefa Skowronska

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.

Posted in Daily Journal, Pszczółkowski, Skowroński | 6 Comments

The Death of Alexander F. Skowronski

Posted on March 9, 2007 by Steve

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

 Certificate of Death for Alexander F. Skowronski - 1970

Certificate of Death for Alexander F. Skowronski – 1970

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.

Copyright © 2007 by Stephen J. Danko

Posted in Dymek, Skowroński | Tagged | 5 Comments

The Death of Frances Skowronski

Posted on March 8, 2007 by Steve

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 - 1963

Certificate of Death for Frances Skowronski – 1963

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.

Copyright © 2007 by Stephen J. Danko

Posted in Dymek, Skowroński | Tagged | Comments Off on The Death of Frances Skowronski

Descendants of Franciszek Skowroński

Posted on March 8, 2007 by Steve

Generation No. 1

1 .  FRANCISZEK SKOWROŃSKI  He married MAŁGORZATA PODESWA, daughter of MICHAŁ PODESWA and ANNA RAJENKA . 
 
Children of FRANCISZEK SKOWROŃSKI and MAŁGORZATA PODESWA are:

2 . i . ALEXANDER FRANK SKOWROŃSKI, born 02 Feb 1886, Grądi, Łomża Gubernia, Congress Poland; died 04 Jan 1970, Hahnemann Hospital /Worcester, Worcester Co., Massachusetts.
3 . ii . PAWEL F. SKOWROŃSKI, born 28 Oct 1890, Grądy, Łomża Gubernia, Congress Poland; died 05 Dec 1959, Worcester, Worcester Co., Massachusetts.
4 . iii . JOSEFA SKOWROŃSKI, born 13 Dec 1891, Grądi, Łomża Gubernia, Congress Poland; died 28 Aug 1989, Gardner Manor Nursing Home /Gardner, Worcester Co., Massachusetts.

Generation No. 2

2 .  ALEXANDER FRANK SKOWROŃSKI (FRANCISZEK) was born 02 Feb 1886 in Grądi, Łomża Gubernia, Congress Poland, and died 04 Jan 1970 in Hahnemann Hospital /Worcester, Worcester Co., Massachusetts .  He married FRANCES DYMEK 19 Feb 1906 in Woonsocket, Providence Co., Rhode Island, daughter of JÓZEF DYMEK and BRONISŁAWA GOŁASH .  She was born 03 May 1888 in Poland, and died 22 Jun 1963 in Massachusetts.
 
Children of ALEXANDER SKOWROŃSKI and FRANCES DYMEK are:

 i . ADAM SKOWRONSKI, born 24 Dec 1906, Gardner, Worcester Co., Massachusetts; died 28 Dec 1906, Gardner, Worcester Co., Massachusetts.
 ii . ALEXANDER SKOWRONSKI, born 24 Aug 1908, Pittsfield, Berkshire Co., Massachusetts.
5 . iii . BENJAMIN STANLEY SKOWRONSKI, SR., born May 1910, Worcester, Worcester Co., Massachusetts; died 06 Nov 1998, Memorial Hospital /Worcester, Worcester Co., Massachusetts.
6 . iv . EDWARD ALEXANDER SKOWRONSKI, born 20 Aug 1912, Worcester, Worcester Co., Massachusetts; died 29 Aug 1995, Worcester, Worcester Co., Massachusetts.
7 . v . CHESTER STANLEY SKOWRONSKI, born 17 Dec 1914, Worcester, Worcester Co., Massachusetts; died 22 Jan 2005, St. Camillus Nursing Center /Whitinsville, Worcester Co., Massachusetts.
8 . vi . JEAN BARBARA SKOWRONSKI, born 31 Mar 1917, Worcester, Worcester Co., Massachusetts; died 18 Oct 1996, Memorial Health Care /Worcester, Worcester Co., Massachusetts.
 vii . FRANCIS SKOWRONSKI, born 26 Oct 1919, 16 Dorchester St. /Worcester, Worcester Co., Massachusetts; died Bef. Apr 1930.
 viii. SOFIE SKOWRONSKI, born 1926; died 1926.

3 .  PAWEŁ F. SKOWROŃSKI (FRANCISZEK) was born 28 Oct 1890 in Grądi, Łomża Gubernia, Congress Poland, and died 05 Dec 1959 in Worcester, Worcester Co., Massachusetts .  He married MARJANNA H. ZABORCZYK 09 Oct 1909 in St. Joseph Church /Gardner, Worcester Co., Massachusetts, daughter of FRANK ZABORCZYK and MARY LADA .  She was born 14 Oct 1888 in Poland, and died 24 Nov 1971 in Worcester, Worcester Co., Massachusetts.
 
Children of PAWEŁ SKOWROŃSKI and MARJANNA ZABORCZYK are:

9 . i . AGNES H. SKOWRONSKI, b. 22 Dec 1910, Gardner, Worcester Co., Massachusetts; d. 04 Nov 2002, Worcester, Worcester Co., Massachusetts.
 ii . EDMOND SKOWRONSKI, b. 31 Dec 1913, Worcester, Worcester Co., Massachusetts; d. May 1986, Tucson, Pima Co., Arizona.
10 . iii . MARY A. SKOWRONSKI, b. 20 Jun 1917, Worcester, Worcester Co., Massachusetts; d. 17 Jan 2005, Webster, Worcester Co., Massachusetts.
11 . iv . CHARLOTTE M. SKOWRONSKI, b. 07 Mar 1919, Worcester, Worcester Co., Massachusetts; d. 30 Nov 1996, St. Vincent Hospital /Worcester, Worcester Co., Massachusetts.
12 . v . THEODORE P. SKOWRONSKI, b. 22 Mar 1922, Worcester, Worcester Co., Massachusetts; d. 30 May 1993, St. Vincent Hospital /Worcester, Worcester Co., Massachusetts.
13 . vi . IRENE P. SKOWRONSKI, b. 22 Jul 1926, Worcester, Worcester Co., Massachusetts; d. 12 Oct 2003, UMASS Memorial Medical Center /Worcester, Worcester Co., Massachusetts.

4 .  JOSEFA SKOWROŃSKI (FRANCISZEK) was born 13 Dec 1891 in Grądi, Łomża Gubernia, Congress Poland, and died 28 Aug 1989 in Gardner Manor Nursing Home /Gardner, Worcester Co., Massachusetts .  She married CZESŁAW PSZCZOLKOWSKI on 26 Oct 1908 in Gardner, Worcester Co., Massachusetts .  He was born 16 May 1887 in Ostrolęka, Łomza Gubernia, Congress Poland, and died 1959.
 
Children of JOSEFA SKOWROŃSKI and CZESŁAW PSZCZOLKOWSKI are:

 i . ZIGMUND PSZCZOLKOWSKI, b. 27 Apr 1915, Massachusetts; d. 26 Dec 1992, Shirley, Middlesex Co., Massachusetts; m. RACHEL YVONNE SEGUIN; b. 27 Sep 1922; d. Nov 1963.
14 . ii . KAZMERA S. PSZCZOLKOWSKI, b. 03 Mar 1913, Massachusetts; d. 06 Sep 2000, Gardner, Worcester Co., Massachusetts.

Generation No. 3

5 .  BENJAMIN STANLEY SKOWRONSKI, SR. (ALEXANDER FRANK, FRANCISZEK) was born May 1910 in Worcester, Worcester Co., Massachusetts, and died 06 Nov 1998 in Memorial Hospital /Worcester, Worcester Co., Massachusetts .  He married (1) MARY B. RADZIK .  She was born 1918, and died Feb 1959 .  He married (2) RUTH E. GRILLO Abt. 1964, daughter of ANTHONY GRILLO and GERTRUDE VON ROSSELER .  She was born 15 Jun 1926 in Jersey City, Hudson Co., New Jersey, and died 17 Dec 2000 in Fletcher Allen Health Care /Burlington, Chittenden Co., Vermont.
 
6 .  EDWARD ALEXANDER SKOWRONSKI (ALEXANDER FRANK, FRANCISZEK) was born 20 Aug 1912 in Worcester, Worcester Co., Massachusetts, and died 29 Aug 1995 in Worcester, Worcester Co., Massachusetts .  He married BERNICE CELIA MARKIEWICZ 21 Nov 1936 in St. Mary’s Church /Worcester, Worcester Co., Massachusetts, daughter of STANISLAW MARKIEWICZ and ANTONINA LEJWODA .  She was born 07 Oct 1915 in Worcester, Worcester Co., Massachusetts, and died 14 Oct 1974 in Worcester, Worcester Co., Massachusetts.
 
7 .  CHESTER STANLEY SKOWRONSKI (ALEXANDER FRANK, FRANCISZEK) was born 17 Dec 1914 in Worcester, Worcester Co., Massachusetts, and died 22 Jan 2005 in St. Camillus Nursing Center /Whitinsville, Worcester Co., Massachusetts .  He married MARY A. PIANOWSKI 12 Jun 1937 in St. Mary’s Church /Worcester, Worcester Co., Massachusetts, daughter of FRANK PIANOWSKI and GERTRUDE CHORNZY .  She was born 25 Dec 1919 in Princeton, Worcester Co., Massachusetts, and died 19 Jan 1997 in St. Vincent Hospital /Worcester, Worcester Co., Massachusetts.
 
Child of CHESTER SKOWRONSKI and MARY PIANOWSKI is:

 i . CHESTER R. SKOWRONSKI, SR., b. 1938, Worcester, Worcester Co., Massachusetts; d. 22 May 2005, Awendaw, Charleston Co., South Carolina.

8 .  JEAN BARBARA SKOWRONSKI (ALEXANDER FRANK, FRANCISZEK) was born 31 Mar 1917 in Worcester, Worcester Co., Massachusetts, and died 18 Oct 1996 in Memorial Health Care /Worcester, Worcester Co., Massachusetts .  She married (1) ROBERT H. SHARRON, SR. 18 Feb 1939 in St. Mary’s Church /Worcester, Worcester Co., Massachusetts, son of GEORGE SHARRON and ADORINE TATRO .  He was born 15 Apr 1917 in Millbury, Worcester Co., Massachusetts, and died 1946 in Millbury, Worcester Co., Massachusetts .  She married (2) MICHAEL JOHN DANKO 12 Jul 1952 in St. Mary’s Church /Worcester, Worcester Co., Massachusetts, son of MICHAEL DANKO and MARIANNA DZIURZYNSKA .  He was born 13 Sep 1913 in Worcester, Worcester Co., Massachusetts, and died 19 Nov 1981 in 15 Marion Avenue /Worcester, Worcester Co., Massachusetts.
 
Child of JEAN SKOWRONSKI and ROBERT SHARRON is:

 i . BARBARA J. SHARRON, b. 22 Aug 1942, Worcester, Worcester Co., Massachusetts; d. 24 Dec 2003, Worcester Medical Center, St. Vincent Hospital / Worcester, Worcester Co., Massachusetts; m. GEORGE T. HAFFTY; b. Abt. 1923, Worcester, Worcester Co., Massachusetts; d. 23 May 2005, Worcester, Worcester Co., Massachusetts.

9 .  AGNES H. SKOWRONSKI (PAWEŁ F., FRANCISZEK) was born 22 Dec 1910 in Gardner, Worcester Co., Massachusetts, and died 04 Nov 2002 in Worcester, Worcester Co., Massachusetts .  She married (1) JOHN KUPSTAS, son of JACOB KUPSTAS and VERONICA SEMAUKOWSKAS .  He was born 1908 in Massachusetts, and died 28 Sep 1936 in Worcester, Worcester Co., Massachusetts .  She married (2) PETER O’PACKI, son of RAYMOND O’PACKI and DOMENICA OLENDER .  He was born 22 Feb 1919 in West Sutton, Worcester Co., Massachusetts, and died 31 Jul 2004 in Worcester, Worcester Co., Massachusetts.

Child of AGNES SKOWRONSKI and JOHN KUPSTAS is:

 v . LORRAINE KUPSTAS, d. 27 Feb 1959, Worcester, Worcester Co., Massachusetts.

10 .  MARY A. SKOWRONSKI (PAWEŁ F., FRANCISZEK) was born 20 Jun 1917 in Worcester, Worcester Co., Massachusetts, and died 17 Jan 2005 in Webster, Worcester Co., Massachusetts .  She married RAYMOND ARTHUR GAGNON, SR., son of GEORGE GAGNON and REGINA DUBE .  He was born 02 Jun 1913 in Worcester, Worcester Co., Massachusetts, and died 09 May 1984 in Worcester, Worcester Co., Massachusetts.
 
11 .  CHARLOTTE M. SKOWRONSKI (PAWEŁ F., FRANCISZEK) was born 07 Mar 1919 in Worcester, Worcester Co., Massachusetts, and died 30 Nov 1996 in St. Vincent Hospital /Worcester, Worcester Co., Massachusetts .  She married PAUL S. OJERHOLM Bet. 1941 – 1942, son of JULIUS OJERHOLM and EMMA HULT .  He was born 26 Oct 1921 in Worcester, Worcester Co., Massachusetts, and died 28 Aug 2002 in St. Vincent Hospital at Worcester Medical Center /Worcester, Worcester Co., Massachusetts.
 
12 .  THEODORE P. SKOWRONSKI (PAWEŁ F., FRANCISZEK) was born 22 Mar 1922 in Worcester, Worcester Co., Massachusetts, and died 30 May 1993 in St. Vincent Hospital /Worcester, Worcester Co., Massachusetts .  He married JOSEPHINE A. MYEFSKI Bet. 1940 – 1941, daughter of JOSEPH MYEFSKI and BENEDICTA TOMKUS .  She was born 24 Jun 1921 in Massachusetts, and died 15 Oct 2001 in 15 Granite Street /Worcester, Worcester Co., Massachusetts.
 
Children of THEODORE SKOWRONSKI and JOSEPHINE MYEFSKI are:

 i . THADDEUS P. SKOWRONSKI, JR., b. 14 Nov 1954, Worcester, Worcester Co., Massachusetts; d. 07 Jun 1989, Worcester, Worcester Co., Massachusetts.

13 .  IRENE P. SKOWRONSKI (PAWEŁ F., FRANCISZEK) was born 22 Jul 1926 in Worcester, Worcester Co., Massachusetts, and died 12 Oct 2003 in UMASS Memorial Medical Center /Worcester, Worcester Co., Massachusetts .  She married ANTHONY P. KIRVILAITIS .  He was born 12 Jul 1917 in Ohio, and died 18 May 1999 in Oxford, Worcester Co., Massachusetts.

 Child of IRENE SKOWRONSKI and ANTHONY KIRVILAITIS is:

 i . ANTHONY KIRVILAITIS, b. 07 Aug 1956, Worcester, Worcester Co., Massachusetts; d. 14 Jan 2002, Boston, Suffolk Co., Massachussetts.

14 .  KAZMERA S. PSZCZOLKOWSKI (JOSEFA SKOWROŃSKI, FRANCISZEK) was born 03 Mar 1913 in Massachusetts, and died 06 Sep 2000 in Gardner, Worcester Co., Massachusetts .  She married (1) STANLEY DYMEK Bef. 1968 .  He was born 21 Jul 1912, and died Mar 1968 .  She married (2) JAMES SUTHERBY Aft. 1968, son of JAMES SUTHERBY and BRIDGET COLE .  He was born Abt. 1912 in New York City, New York Co., New York, and died 16 Dec 1995 in Heywood Hospital /Massachusetts.

Posted in Daily Journal | Comments Off on Descendants of Franciszek Skowroński

The Amateurologist

Posted on March 8, 2007 by Steve

I found a new genealogy blog of note today – The Amateurologist.

Welcome back, Lee! 😉

Posted in Daily Journal | 3 Comments

The Grave of Chester S. Skowronski, Mary A. Pianowski, and Chester R. Skowronski

Posted on March 7, 2007 by Steve

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 - Obverse

The Monument for Chester S. Skowronski, Mary A. Pianowski, and Chester R. Skowronski – Obverse

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

The Monument for Chester S. Skowronski, Mary A. Pianowski, and Chester R. Skowronski – Reverse

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 . Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â  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.

Copyright © 2007 by Stephen J. Danko

Posted in Daily Journal, Skowroński | 2 Comments

The Grave of Mary B. Radzik Skowronski

Posted on March 6, 2007 by Steve

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.

The Monument for Mary B Radzik Skowronski - Front

Monument for Mary B. Radzik Skowronski – Front

The Monument for Mary B Radzik Skowronski - Back

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.

Posted in Daily Journal, Skowroński | 1 Comment

The Grave of Benjamin S. Skowronski, Sr. and Ruth E. Grillo

Posted on March 5, 2007 by Steve

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 Skowronski and Ruth Grillo - Front

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

Monument for Benjamin Skowronski and Ruth Grillo - Back

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 . Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â     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.

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The Birth of Jean Skowronski

Posted on March 4, 2007 by Steve

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 Registry of Vital Records.

The Birth Record for Jean Skowronski

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.

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The Birth of Francis Skowronski

Posted on March 3, 2007 by Steve

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 Registry of Vital Records.

The Birth Record for Francis Skowronski

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.

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