Helen M. Kawa, 81
NORTH ADAMS, Mass. — Helen M. Kawa, 81, of 41 Northern Lights Ave. died Tuesday, April 7, 2009, at North Adams Regional Hospital surrounded by her daughters, after a long battle with lung cancer.
Born in North Adams on July 21, 1927, daughter of John Zepka and Mary Pudlo Zepka Luczynski and stepdaughter of Joseph Luczynski, she attended North Adams schools.
Mrs. Kawa was employed at the former Sprague Electric Co. for 30 years, retiring in 1985. She then worked in the pro shop of the North Adams Country Club for three years.
A member of the country club for 45 years, she was club champion 11 times, the last time at age 68. She was a great golfer who won many tournaments throughout her career and played regularly in the club's Tuesday and Thursday Night leagues. She also enjoyed swimming at the YMCA.
Her children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren meant the world to her. They all celebrated her 80th and 81st birthdays together, and her last Christmas was celebrated surrounded by her family.
Her husband of 51 years, Stephen P. Kawa, died July 12, 1997.
She leaves her two daughters, Nancy King, with whom she made her home, and Linda Lewitt and her husband, Charles, of Clarksburg; two sisters, Florence Lucia of Gilmanton, N.H., and Patricia Little of Williamstown; two brothers, Robert Luczynski and his wife, Betti, of Seville, Fla., and Richard Luczynski and his wife, Beverly, of North Adams; four grandchildren, Vincent S. King and his children Julia, Vincent A., Jake and Nicole, all of Bradford, Colleen and Matt Costich and their children Christopher and Sarah, all of Lunenburg, Susan and Bert Colvin, both of Gilmanton, and Stephen and Amy Lewitt and their children Gabriel and Ashton, all of North Adams; a former son-in-law, Vincent M. King of Clarksburg; a granddaughter-in-law, Melanie King of Bradford, her special friend Jim Nicol of North Adams and nieces and nephews.
She was predeceased by her siblings Mildred Konieczny, Josephine Sullivan, Henry Zepka and Frederick Zepka.
FUNERAL NOTICE — The funeral for Mrs. Kawa will be conducted Friday, April 10, at 9 a.m. from Flynn & Dagnoli-Montagna Home for Funerals, Central Chapels, 74 Marshall St., North Adams. Burial will follow in Southview cemetery.
Calling hours will be Thursday from 4 to 7 p.m. at the funeral home. Memorial contributions may be made to the Helen Kawa Scholarship for junior golf memberships in care of the funeral home.