Anna Tumidajski

Anna (Szczygiel) Tumidajski died peacefully with her daughters by her side at her home in Indian Orchard on September 27, 2007. She was 108 years old.

She was born in Dombrowa, Poland, on November 1, 1898, the daughter of Paul and Sophie Szczygiel. She was the second oldest of nine children.

At age 10, she arrived at Ellis Island with her mother and older sister to join her father, who had immigrated to the United States to find a better life for his family. Anna went to school in Wilbraham and Ludlow, but left to start working at the Ludlow mills. As a teen-ager, she met Stanley Tumidajski. They were wed in February of 1917 and were married for 45 years.

The Tumidajskis ran a dry goods store in Indian Orchard from 1926 to 1963. During her retirement, Anna had more time to pursue some of her favorite pastimes: crocheting, reading and being with her family. She was active well into her 100s, dining out with her two daughters and playing with her great grandchildren. She was a faithful parishioner at Immaculate Conception Church.

She is survived by her daughters, Stella Tumidajski of Indian Orchard and Clementine Webber of Wilbraham; her granddaughter, Karen A. Webber, and her husband, Jack Sheehan, and three great grandchildren, John, Joseph and Anna Sheehan, all of Sutton; a sister, Nellie Remian of Southbridge; and numerous nieces and nephews.

Her family will always remember her loving spirit and her strength.

Visitation will be from 8:30 to 9:30 a.m. Tuesday, Oct. 2, at Nowak Funeral Home, 15 Ludlow Ave., Springfield, with a Mass at 10 a.m. at Immaculate Conception Parish, 25 Parker St., Springfield. Burial will follow in St. Aloysius Cemetery. Donations in her memory may be made to Immaculate Conception Parish, Greater Springfield Senior Services, 66 Industry Ave., Springfield, or Spectrum Home Health and Hospice Care, 770 Converse St., Longmeadow.