Obituary of Anna Mary Ogrodnik

"Anna M. (Misterka) Kulig Ogrodnik, 93, of Country Lane died Monday at Holyoke Medical Center. Born in New York Mills, NY, February 25, 1911, she was the daughter of the late John and Frances (Seweryn) Misterka. Anna grew up in Indian Orchard and attended Springfield Schools. She then moved to Chicopee Falls for many years before moving to South Hadley in 1959. She and her first husband, the late Steven Kulig owned and operated the former Steve’s Restaurant in Chicopee Falls until his death in 1936. She continued to run the business with her second husband, the late Walter J. Ogrodnik. The business was a popular gathering place for Westover and Fisk Tire empolyees. They retired and closed the business in 1966, after 35 years. In her younger years she worked briefly as a bookkeeper for the former Forbes & Wallace Stores. Mrs. Ogrodnik was a faithful communicant of St. Theresa’s Church in S. Hadley, and as the oldest of seven children, cherished the role as the “matriarch”. Though she had no children, her siblings, nieces, nephews, grand nieces and nephews, and great grand nieces and nephews looked to her as the inspiration and role model of the family. The weekly gatherings at her home brought everyone together for her wonderful cooking and warm social connections. She will be deeply missed by her brother Walter and his wife Mildred of Indian Orchard, her two sisters Angela Foster of Indian Orchard, and Helen Bruno of W. Haven, CT, her sister in law Theresa Misterka of South Hadley, along with 13 nieces and nephews, and 57 grand nieces and nephews, and many great grand nieces and nephews. Besides her first and second husbands, she was predeceased by three brothers Joseph of Enfield, CT, Bronislaw of Chicopee and Frank of Indian Orchard. Funeral services will be held Thursday at 10:15 a.m. from the Beers and Story S. Hadley Funeral Home, 646 Newton St, (Rte 116), followed by a mass of Christian burial at 11:00 a.m. in St. Theresa’s Church. Burial will follow in St. Stanislaus Cemetery, Chicopee. Calling hours are Wednesday from 4:00 – 7:00 p.m. Donations may be made in her memory to Yours for Life Campaign, Holyoke Medical Center, 20 Hospital Drive, Holyoke, MA 01040. "