DUDLEY – Rozalia Bal passed away peacefully on Tuesday, November 6, 2018 in Harrington Memorial Hospital in Southbridge, MA on her 90th birthday. She was born November 6, 1928 in Poland to Franciszka and Walenty Kicilinski. Her husband of 41 years, Franciszek, passed away in Poland on July 3, 1990 and her brother, Jozef, in August, 2016.
She leaves behind in Poland: her son, Wieslaw and his wife Henryka, grandchildren: Dariusz, Wojciech, Michal and Edyta, great-grandchildren: Kamila, Julia, Gabriela, Ania, Franciszek and Matylda. In the U.S., she leaves her daughter Jolanta Bugajski, son Andrzej and his wife Maria and son Janusz, grandchildren: David, Jeanette and Dawid. Also, great-grandchildren: Emily, Jacob, Benjamin, Filip and Casper. After she came to this country, Rozalia lived with her daughter Jolanta and her son Janusz, who took care of her during her life in Dudley, MA.
In Poland Rozalia was a graduate of a small village school and always dreamed of being a teacher. Unfortunately, both her mother’s poor health and a country torn by the events of World War II prevented her from accomplishing this dream. In 1949, she married her sweetheart Franciszek, a next-door neighbor, and dedicated her life to raising her four children, working on the family farm and helping others. As a young teenager, during the war, she taught herself design and sewing, which became her passion and helped her to ensure proper clothing for the entire family as well as her friends.
Rozalia was an avid reader who read mostly classical books available in the village library. In this country, she read numerous magazines and a daily newspaper, Nowy Dziennik, printed in the Polish language. Rozalia also enjoyed cooking, gardening and music. She devoted her life to caring for her family and especially loved spending time with her grandchildren and great-grandchildren. Rozalia will be very much missed by her family and friends, who wish her a happy eternal life.
The family wishes to express very deep gratitude to all, especially Dr. Beata Stancel-Grabias, who assisted with caring for her during her last few years of declining health.
Calling hours will be held from 5:00 to 7:00 PM Friday, November 9 in the Sitkowski & Malboeuf Funeral Home, 340 School Street, Webster. Her funeral will be held Saturday, November 10 from the funeral home with a Mass at 11:00 AM in Saint Andrew Bobola Church, 54 West Main Street, Dudley. Per Rozalia’s wishes, she will be buried next to her husband Franciszek. The burial will take place in Poland.