Obituary of Anna S. Williams

Anna S. (Lyszchyn) Williams, 93, of South Hadley, passed away on December 29, 2022. She was born in Holyoke on December 12, 1929, the daughter of Nicholas and Mary (Dudrick) Lyszchyn. Anna grew up in South Hadley and made her home with her husband Harold one street away from where she was raised. Anna and Harold lived together in their family home until the day she passed. She was strong yet warm, kind and determined, fierce and loyal. Above all else, she was devoted to her family. She showed her love with powerful hugs, delicious homemade food, thoughtful gifts, and a playful sense of humor that made her seem far younger than her years. She was the hub of the family, her home was the place to be, and her door was always open. Whenever you arrived, she would gladly stop whatever she was doing to visit and to feed you. No one could get enough of her pierogi, apple pie and golumpki. Her kitchen table and her screened porch were favorite spots for visits. Many summer days were spent on the porch watching her grandchildren, nieces and nephews, and in recent years great-grandchildren, swim in the pool that Harold built. “Free food Sunday”, an elaborate weekly meal at 12:30, was a long-standing tradition that will always be treasured by her family. Time spent at her home is what the phrase “the good old days” is all about. Anna enjoyed the simple pleasures in life: she loved the sound of rain, feeding the birds and squirrels, tending to her flower gardens, long phone calls and visits with her siblings, playing cards on Sundays, and introducing her great-grandchildren to cooking shows. Grammy was known for spoiling generations of children in her life with lots of treats and the best toys a kid could ask for. Christmas was her favorite time of year and she made it magical for everyone with her extensive decorations and carefully selected gifts. She was an avid puzzle maker and she crocheted many blankets that will continue to warm those she loved for many years.

She will be remembered and missed by her beloved husband of 73 years, Harold H. Williams, along with their five devoted children: Patricia and Mark Pappas of South Hadley; Bruce Williams of South Hadley; Debra and David Lavoice of Huntington; Harold “Bobby” and Diane Williams of Navarre, FL; and David and Amy Williams of South Hadley. She also leaves siblings Romeo Lyszchyn, Laurie Spychalla, Nicholas Lyndon, Alfred Lyszchyn, and Marie Marion. Grammy’s memory will continue to be cherished by her eight grandchildren: Max and wife Adel, Emily and husband Eric, Wess, Vanessa, Maverick and wife Jenna, Zak, Colton, and Grace as well as her six treasured great-grandchildren: Charlotte, Miles, Molly, Marshall, Orion and Atlas. Anna also leaves her goddaughter Kimberly Marion, along with many other nieces, nephews, and extended family. Besides her parents, she was predeceased by two siblings, Edward Lyndon, and Olga Kloss. Visitation will be held Sunday, January 8th from 1:00 – 4:00 p.m. at the Beers & Story South Hadley Funeral Home. Friends and family may gather on Monday, January 9th at 10:00 a.m. at the funeral home to process to St. Theresa of Lisieux for a Funeral Mass at 11:00 a.m. with burial to follow in Mater Dolorosa Cemetery. To virtually view the Mass, please visit https://client.tribucast.com/tcid/4934179620  In lieu of flowers, and in honor of the many veterans in her family who Anna loved, please consider a donation to the Wounded Warrior Project (woundedwarriorproject.org).