Walter J. Gajda Sr.

NORTH ADAMS -- Walter J. Gajda Sr., 88, of 303 Beaver St. died yesterday at his home.

He was born June 15, 1917, in Adams, to Thomas and Katherine Piterah Gajda and graduated the former Adams High School in 1936.

Mr. Gajda worked at GE for 40 years, retiring in 1978. He was the proprietor, along with his wife, of Gajda Market on Beaver St. for 25 years until 1971, when the business closed.

He was a communicant of St. Francis of Assisi Church and North Adams Catholic Community. He also was a member of the General Electric Pensioners Club.

He and his is wife, the former Helene T. Roy, were married May 30, 1939, at St. Francis of Assisi Church. She died June 25, 1997.

He leaves a daughter, Cheryl A. Westall of Williamstown, two sons, Thomas A. Gajda of Williamstown, and Walter J. Gajda Jr. of Lake Ozark, Missouri, and seven grandchildren

FUNERAL NOTICE -- The Family of Walter J. Gajda Sr., who died Thursday, Nov. 17, 2005, will gather to meet family and friends on Wednesday at 9:30 a.m. at FLYNN & DAGNOLI-MONTAGNA Home for Funerals. A Liturgy of Christian Burial will follow at 11 a.m. at St. Francis of Assisi Church. Burial will follow in Southview Cemetery. Memorial donations are suggested for North Adams Regional Hospital through the funeral home, 521 West Main St., North Adams, MA 01247. He also leaves a son-in-law, Donald Westall; two daughters-in-law, Catherine Gajda and Laura Gajda, and seven grandchildren, Nicole Westall, Jacqueline Draper, Jaime Gajda, Matthew Gajda, Colleen Gajda, Thomas Gajda and Jacqueline Gajda. He was predeceased by two brothers, John Gajda and Joseph Gajda, and three sisters, Gladys Paradysz, Frances Wilson and Felicia Fleury.