In Memory of

Joseph

F.

Pietrzak

Obituary for Joseph F. Pietrzak

Joseph F. Pietrzak, 95, of Auburn, an avid sports fan, golfer, bowler and Polka music enthusiast, passed away on Friday June 8, 2018 at the Rose Monahan Hospice Residence in Worcester.

His wife of 45 years, Irene (Kulig) Pietrzak, died in 1992. He leaves a son, Joseph M. Pietrzak and his wife Jane of Dudley; two daughters, Carole A. Gardella and her husband Paul of Worcester and Christine Dowell and her husband Fred of Charlton; seven grandchildren, Daniel Gardella, Cynthia Wing, Amy Naffah, Sara Gardella, Lori Pietrzak, Angela (Dowell) Karpf and Michael Pietrzak; four great grandchildren, Zachary Naffah, Ryan Wing, Marissa Naffah and Joshua Towne. His grandson Adam Dowell, sisters Helen Banach, Blanche Daigle and brother Chester Pietrzak predeceased him.

Mr. Pietrzak was born in Lomza, Poland son of the late Joseph S. Pietrzak and Czeslawa (Burzynski) Pietrzak. He came to the United States as an infant, raised in Worcester and has lived in Auburn since 1950. Mr. Pietrzak graduated from Classical High School in 1941 and later received an Associate Degree in Industrial Engineering from Worcester Junior College. Mr. Pietrzak proudly served in the United States Army Corps of Engineers in China, Burma and India during World War II.

Mr. Pietrzak was a Senior Cost Estimator at the Lodding Engineering Corporation in Auburn, a division of Thermo Electron, where he worked for 42 years. He retired in 1988. Mr. Pietrzak was a communicant of Saint Joseph’s Parish in Auburn since 1950 and was an honorary life member of the Knights of Columbus Council # 4158, Auburn. He served on the Board of Directors of the Polish National Alliance, Lodge # 758 in Worcester serving as recording secretary and President for several years.

Mr. Pietrzak is a former member of SPEBSQA, the Worcester “Men of Song”, a Barbershop Harmony singing group, as well as the Greendale Retired Men’s Club, where he was active in its bowling and golf leagues. He was a catcher and played men’s “Class A” fast pitch softball with various teams in central Massachusetts. He also played semi-pro basketball with a strong Tadcaster Brewer’s team in 1946-1947. Mr. Pietrzak coached little league baseball in Auburn in the 1970’s.


Relatives and friends are invited to visit with Mr. Pietrzak’s family on Monday June 11, 2018 from 4-7 PM at the BRITTON-WALLACE FUNERAL HOME, 91 Central Street, Auburn. His funeral will be on Tuesday June 12, 2018 with a funeral Mass celebrated at 10 AM at St. Joseph’s Church, 189 Oxford Street North, Auburn. Entombment with military honors will be at Notre Dame Cemetery, Worcester. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Adam J. Dowell Memorial Scholarship Fund, c/o Cornerstone Bank, 64 Leicester St, North Oxford, MA 01537.