[ Originally published on: Thursday, January 21, 2010 ]
SOUTH DEERFIELD -- Zdzislaw ''Chet'' W. Zajac, 90, of 31 Eastern Ave., died peacefully at home on Tuesday, Jan. 19, 2010.
He was born in Philadelphia, Pa., Aug. 29, 1919, the son of Frank and Katherine (Gzyl) Zajac. He was educated in Poland.
He returned to the U.S. in 1939 and later married the former Veronica A. Finkowski at St. Stanislaus Church on Aug. 2, 1947 by the Rev. John Langow. All of their married life was spent in South Deerfield with over 50 years in the home they built on Eastern Avenue.
He was employed at Eaglebrook School in Deerfield, worked as a carpenter, painter and mason in the Deerfield area and later retired after more than 20 years service at the University of Massachusetts at Amherst.
Chet enjoyed tending his vegetable garden and continued to grow and share the flowers his wife lovingly grew in their garden after her passing in 2006. Chet especially enjoyed attending family events and could always be counted on to lend a helping hand to family and friends when needed.
Chet leaves a brother, Zygmund in Poland; two sisters-in-law, Anna Gochinski and Martha LaBrecque; nieces, Helen Miecznikowski, Irene Dionne, Jane Patterson, Carol Guertin and Eva Dabrowski; nephews, Henry Zajac Jr. of South Deerfield and Henry Zajac of Connecticut, and other nieces, nephews and cousins in the U.S. and Poland.
Chet was predeceased by his loving wife Veronica, who passed away on Nov. 29, 2006. He was also predeceased by three brothers, Henry of South Deerfield, Leon of Plainville, Conn., and Edward in Poland, and one sister, Adela, in Poland.
Chet was a member and communicant of Holy Family Roman Catholic Church in South Deerfield.
Funeral services will be Friday at 9 a.m. from the Wrisley Funeral Home, 90 Sugarloaf St., South Deerfield, followed by a Liturgy of Christian Burial at 10 in Holy Family Parish. Burial will follow in St. Stanislaus Cemetery.
Calling hours at the funeral home are this evening from 5 to 7.
Donations in his memory may be made to Holy Family Parish Church Fund, 29 Sugarloaf St., South Deerfield, MA 01373.