SOPHIA DOROTHY WYSK (1917-2022)

 Our community sadly lost an amazing person on February 16, 2022 when Sophia Dorothy Wysk passed away after a short illness at the age of 104. She lived through both the great flu pandemic of 1918 and the Covid pandemic of 2019, which eventually ended her life. Sophia Dorothy Mazurowski was born October 1,1917 in Holyoke, MA to Walter and Edna (Perlowski) Mazurowski, who had both immigrated to the U.S. before WW1. ‘Dottie’ was the 3rd of 9 children.

 She went to school in Holyoke and South Hadley, but at about age 14 began to work in Holyoke’s mills to support her parents. Pretty, fit, and trim, she was a superb dancer and was very popular. During the time of flappers, she danced the Charleston in addition to traditional Polish Dances. She married Stanley Wysk of Deerfield, MA at Mater Dolorosa Church on November 11, 1943. Life for a young mother during WW2 was difficult and challenging. She worked hard washing family clothes with a washboard, scrubbing floors by hand, and raising 5 children. She took her children to church every Sunday, followed by visits to their grandparents. She also worked tirelessly to provide opportunities for her kids, and boasted that they all graduated from high school and went to college. She instilled in them a strong sense of family values, love, and loyalty.

 Together for 58 years, she and Stanley lived in Chicopee, MA, Wellfleet, and Palm Harbor, FL. At the celebration of her 100th birthday, she dazzled guests by dancing the polka, singing Polish folk songs, and demonstrating how she could still ‘touch her toes’ while standing upright. Members of the Polish orchestra asked her for photos, as if she were a ‘Rock Star’.

 She is survived by her children, Ronald Wysk (Susan) of Duxbury, MA, Patricia Cuffe (David) of Trinity, FL, Richard Wysk (Patricia) of Raleigh, NC, Daniel Wysk (Tamara) of Beverly Hills, FL, and Laurie Puddester (Shawn) of Naples, FL. She is also survived by 12 grandchildren, and 14 great-grandchildren.