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Angelina Chwalek
December 06, 2020

Obituary

Angelina "Jean" Chwalek (Lacivita) passed away on December 6, 2020 at the age of 91. Family and friends will remember Jean as the matriarch and moral compass for four generations of her family. Her passion was taking care of everyone. She never thought about herself, only what she could do for others. Jean was born in 1929 in Springfield, Massachusetts, and lived there her entire life. She was a graduate of Commerce High School, Class of 1946, and a communicant at Our Lady of Sacred Heart Church and then at Saint Catherine of Sienna Church. Jean married Alexander Chwalek in 1950 and they raised three children; Allan, Katherine, and Thomas. Jean and her husband Alexander were part of a very close group of friends (six couples) affectionally known as the "dirty dozen," and since the 1960s, the “dirty dozen” traveled New England and also took turns hosting social gatherings. However, family was always at the forefront of Jean's life, as it was with her three sisters and brother. Every birthday, every holiday, every significant life event or achievement was a call for a warm, large, celebratory family gathering that always included an abundance of homemade Italian cooking, fun activities, and the sharing of much love and laughter. The family's memories of these hundreds of gatherings will be cherished. For 15 years, Jean visited the Evangelistic Covenant Church senior drop-in center, sharing quality time with her friends as they exercised, played canasta, and enjoyed lunches together. Angelina was the daughter of the late Joseph and Antoinette Lacivita. Besides her parents, she was predeceased by her brother Angelo and his wife June, and her sister Carmela and husband John McCarthy. She was also predeceased by brothers-in-law Mel Makowicki and Richard Ollari. Angelina leaves Alexander, her loving husband of 70 years; two sisters, Ida Ollari and Helen Makowicki; three children, Allan Chwalek and wife Barbara, Katherine Gajda and husband Thomas, and Thomas Chwalek and wife Margy; four grandchildren, Nicholas Brown and wife Sara, Jessica Brown and partner Brandon Groom, and Julie and Matt Fuller; and five great-grandchildren, Mia and Olivia Brown, Brody Groom, and Sydney and Mason Fuller. In addition, her nieces and nephews were a large part of Jean’s life. May Angelina rest in peace. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations can be made to Shriner's Hospital in Springfield, Massachusetts. Services, including a celebration of Angelina’s life, will be announced in the future. The Grise Funeral Home is entrusted with arrangements. For online condolences, please visit www.GriseFH.com.

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Grisé Funeral Home
280 Springfield Street
Chicopee, MA 01013
413-594-4189