Mary (Krupiennina) Surowiec, 88, of Ashley Lane, Ipswich, passed
away Friday morning September 5, 2008 at Caldwell Rehabilitation and
Nursing Home after a brief illness. She was the wife of Ignacy
Surowiec, who predeceased her in 1991. She was fondly known to her
grandchildren and great grandchildren as Babcie.
Mary was born in Kruglicy, Russia, March 16, 1920, daughter of the
late Dymitry and Dekieja (Pitrowa) Krupiennina. She grew up in
Russia and during WWII survived the German war work camps where she
met her husband to be. She was married in Mozbach, Germany, July 7,
1945, and immigrated to the United States with her husband and young
daughter, Wanda in June of 1949. She stayed with her husband’s
step-sister and family until they got established. Shortly after
arriving in Ipswich, Mary was employed at the former Pequot Mills in
Salem. She then worked as a seamstress at a clothing store in Depot
Square in Ipswich. Following that, she was employed at Sylvania in
Ipswich until its closure. After the Sylvania closure, she was
employed by Western Electric in Lawrence until her retirement in
1982.
Mary was an avid member of the Sacred Heart Church until its closure
and then joined Our Lady of Hope Parish in Ipswich. She was a
member of the Holy Rosary Solidary at Sacred Heart. Mary enjoyed
sewing and made many of her own clothes as well as clothes for her
children. She loved cooking and baking her Polish specialty dishes
which will long be treasured, especially by her grandchildren as no
one could make anything as well as Babcie!
She
is survived by her three children, a daughter, Wanda Carlson and
husband Rick of Ipswich, her sons, John Surowiec and his wife Alena
of Amesbury, and Stanley Surowiec of Newburyport. She also leaves
behind her grandchildren, Shawn Carlson and his wife Blake of
Kathleen, Georgia, Stacey Bennett and her husband Mike of Ipswich,
April Surowiec of Haverhill, John Surowiec and his wife Melissa of
Lebanon, ME, and Bonnie Surowiec of Amesbury. Her great
grandchildren Morgan, Savanna and Owen brought her great joy and
always made her smile even during difficult days. She is also
survived by her nieces, Marisha Radzim and her husband Eugene of
Ipswich and Anna Parent of Portsmouth, NH. She was predeceased by by
her brother, Alexander, her two sisters Ryeisa and Valla and her
nephew, Tony Katzor of Colorado as well as several great nieces and
nephews. She will be missed by many and much thanks
goes to her friends at Caldwell Rehabilitation and to Hospice of the
North Shore for her comfort and care.
Her
funeral service will be held Monday September 8 at 8 am from the
Whittier-Porter Funeral Home, 6 High Street, Ipswich, followed by a
9 am Funeral Mass of Christian Burial at Our Lady of Hope Church,
Pineswamp Road, Ipswich. Visiting hours will be Sunday from 4pm to
8pm. Relatives and friends respectfully invited. Internment will
be at the Highland Cemetery, Ipswich. In lieu of flowers, memorial
contributions can be made to the Friends of Caldwell, 16 Green St.
Ipswich, MA.
