Obituary of Michael Kowal

KOWAL - Michael Kowal, age 88, died January 23, 2013 at Griffin Hospital surrounded by his family. Born in Rychwald, Gorlice, Poland on November 17, 1924, he was the son of the late Orest and Antonina Dokla Kowal. Mr. Kowal immigrated to the U.S. in 1949 settling in Shelton. He worked in B.F. Goodrich in Shelton and U.S. Motors in Milford before finally retiring from Seymour Specialty Wire in 1986. Mr. Kowal was a lifelong member of Sts. Peter and Paul Church and will be long remembered for his ingenuity and passion for fulfilling "his" American dream. He could be called an "entrepreneur", working with machinery, electrical wiring, and building his own home, anything to provide for his family. Together, he and his wife, Anna, sponsored several siblings and their families, including cousins, for immigration to the United States. Michael enjoyed traveling-visiting family in Canada, Florida, Oregon, Poland, Ukraine, and Austria, as well as two cross-country trips. He is survived by his devoted children, Barbara (Peter) Pysarchyk of Shelton, Michael (Stefania Jolanta) Kowal of Bethany; and John (Julie Richardson) Kowal of Shelton; sister Tekla Kowal Zanowiak of Shelton; cherished grandchildren, Marianne and Michael Pysarchyk, Jessica and Alexandra Kowal, and Stephanie and Jaclyn Kowal; great-grandson, Stefan Pysarchyk-Ahmeti; as well as many nieces and nephews. He was predeceased by his wife, Anna Gebuza Kowal whom he was married to for 60 years, sisters, Maryna Kowal Hutnyk, Olena Kowal Pysarchyk, Zofia Kowal Kobasiar, Anna Kowal Zanowiak, and brothers, Ivan Kowal, Stefan Kowal and Petro Kowal all of Ukraine. Funeral services will take place on Saturday, January 26, 2013 at 9:00 AM from the Wakelee Memorial Funeral Home, 167 Wakelee Ave., Ansonia. A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at 10:00 AM in Sts. Peter and Paul Church, 105 Clifton Ave., Ansonia. Springtime interment will be in Sts. Peter and Paul Cemetery, Derby. Family and friends may call on Friday, January 25, 2013 from 4:00 to 7:00 PM; Panikhida at 6:30 PM. Memorial contributions may be made to the Sts. Peter and Paul Preservation Fund, the Griffin Hospital Hospice Unit, and the Connecticut Hospice. On line condolences may be made at www.wakeleememorial.com.