Bernice S. Czaja

PITTSFIELD -- Bernice Shook Czaja, 89, formerly of 234 Highland Ave., died Saturday at Hillcrest Commons, where she had resided since February 2000.

Born in Pittsfield on Dec. 4, 1916, daughter of Joseph and Rozalia Stodulski Wierzbicki, she emigrated to Poland with her parents at the age of 4 and was educated in schools there until the age of 15, when she returned to the United States with her family. She was also educated in Broadbrook, Conn. She lived most of her life in Pittsfield, and also lived in Housatonic at one time.

A hairdresser, Mrs. Czaja owned and operated Bernice's Beauty Salon on North Street and on South Street for a total of 17 years. She retired in 1980.

She was a communicant of Holy Family Church and a member of the Polish Falcons of America and the Polish Community Club. She enjoyed gardening, dancing and cooking.

Her first husband, Paul J. Shook, whom she married Dec. 6, 1933, died in 1959.

She and her husband, Peter C. Czaja, were married in January 1980. He died in 1992.

She leaves a daughter, Victoria Pulaski of Binghamton, N.Y.; a son, Robert J. Shook of Pittsfield; three stepsons, Peter Czaja and Paul Czaja, both of Housatonic, and Joseph Czaja of Columbus, Ohio; a sister, Antoinette Pinardi of Wethersfield, Conn; four grandchildren, and four great grandchildren. Another son, Joseph Shook, died in 1954.

FUNERAL NOTICE -- The funeral for Bernice Shook Czaja, who died Saturday, July 22, 2006, will be tomorrow at 9:15 from DERY FUNERAL HOME, with a Liturgy of Christian Burial at 10 at St. Charles' Church celebrated by the Rev. Peter S. Gregory, pastor. Burial will follow in St. Joseph's Cemetery. Calling hours will be today from 4 to 7 at the funeral home. Mrs. Czaja will be greatly missed by her four grandchildren, Sharon, Richard and Kathleen Pulaski, and Ryan Shook. She was predeceased by a brother, Henry Kowalczyk, and by two sisters, Sophie Yanishewsky and Helen Patten.