Obituary of Sophie M. Pietras

"Sophie M. (Strzempko) Pietras, 86, died peacefully with her family by her side on January 20, 2007 at Loomis House in Holyoke. Born on April 4, 1920 she was the daughter of the late Joseph and Mary (Grzanka) Strzempko. She grew up in Holyoke relocating to South Hadley in 1955, where she raised her family. Sophie was a communicant of Mater Dolorosa Church in Holyoke and worked at White Wing in South Hadley for 30 years, retiring in 1999. She enjoyed caring for others in her family and her time at home. Her husband Mitchell and son Daniel predeceased her. She will be deeply missed by her three loving children, Mitchell and his wife Marge of Easthampton Leonard and his wife Paula of South Hadley, and Walter of South Hadley. Her five cherished grandchildren, Melissa Nestor, Karl Nestor and his wife Stacey, Joseph Alison, Bill Pietras, her great-grandson Brady Kyle and her two brothers, Frank and John Strzempko both of South Hadley and three Sisters, Helen Leonczyk of Ludlow, Emily Zoladz of Pittsfield and Jean Kurdziel of South Hadley also survive her. Besides her husband and son, she was predeceased by four brothers and two sisters. Funeral services will be on Wednesday, January 24, 2007 at 9:30 am from the Beers and Story South Hadley Funeral Home, 646 Newton St., with a Mass of Christian Burial at 10:30 a.m. at Mater Dolorosa Church. Burial will follow in Mater Dolorosa Cemetery. Calling hours will be on Tuesday from 3:00 – 8:00 p.m with a Celebration of her life at 8:00 p.m. Memorial donations in her memory may be made to the Mater Dolorosa Building Fund, 71 Maple Street, Holyoke, MA 01040 or the Sophie Pietras Scholarship Fund FBO Loomis Nursing Center employees c/o Peoples Bank 494 Newton Street, S. Hadley, MA 01075. "