Waclaw "Wacek" Medrykowski

GARDNER- Waclaw "Wacek" Medrykowski died Friday, March 13, 2015, after a brief stay at The Hermitage in Worcester, MA.   He was predeceased by Stanley and Joanna Smith with whom he made his home since 1950. He leaves his cousins and caregivers, Patricia Keresy of West Hartford, CT, and Stanley R. Smith and his wife, Melanie Gallo of Ashburnham; Patricia’s children: Pamela Helin and her husband, Todd of TX, Priscilla Keresy of NY, William Keresy, III and his wife, Elizabeth of CT, Alexandra Anderson and her husband, Roine of TX; Stanley’s children: Stanley Smith Jr. and his wife, Tina of IL, Stephanie Smith of Westminster, Valerie Sullivan of Westminster, Kassia Smith of Worcester, and their families. He was born in Poland on September 8, 1919, as the oldest of two sons.  As a young man he joined the Polish Army after the outbreak of World War II.  Captured by the Germans, he was taken into forced labor in Germany as a prisoner of war.  After liberation by the U. S. Army, he worked with the 8599th Labor Service Co. (Polish) (Civilian Guard) at Kaufbouron Air Force Base where he was a motor vehicle operator. He was discharged in June 1949.  He then immigrated to the United States and eventually arrived in Gardner to live with his aunt and uncle, Karol and Katarzyna Woicek and the Stanley Smith family. He became a naturalized citizen of the United States May 27, 1955. He was a proud member of the Polish American Veterans, the P.A.C.C. where he served as President. He was also a member St. Joseph Parish, the Gardner Golden Age Club, and the Silver Sneakers. He loved gardening. He was extremely proud of his annual blueberry crop and his many sweet butternut squash. An animal lover, he took great care of his dog, Seiko and his cat, Mittens. He enjoyed Sunday dinners at the lake surrounded by his family. He was a kind and gentle man. He worked for Thayer’s, Heywood Wakefield, and retired from Simplex, after many years. The family would like to thank the staff from Beacon Hospice, the Hermitage, and his home health care givers for the exceptional care they gave. The funeral will be held Monday, March 16, from Poliks Funeral Home, 431 Pleasant St., Gardner, with a Mass of Christian Burial at 11:00 A.M. at St., Joseph Church, 358 Pleasant St., Gardner. Burial will be private. A calling hour will be held Monday, March 16, from 9:30 to 10:30 A.M. in the funeral home. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the charity of one’s choice. $(document).ready(function(){ });