Olga K. Chudzik

1922 - 2023

Olga K Chudzik lived for over 100 years and was vital and fiercely independent for almost 100 years before declining due to heart failure. Born on October 5, 1922 as Olga Klapatch, she was a coalminer's daughter, the ninth of 10 children of a Ukrainian immigrant couple living and working in Pennsylvania. Her father died before she could remember him, and her mother took most of her children on a train to Hartford CT, while the older children worked in Binghamton NY, to send money home.

She passed away on February 24, 2023, the first anniversary of Russia's invasion of Ukraine, in the company of people who loved her. She was the last member of her family of 7 girls and 3 boys, many who lived past 90.

To Olga, Hartford was an idyllic place to grow up during the Depression. She explored the parks and roller skating rinks, and it was exciting to roam freely through the city streets.

After graduating Hartford Public High School and working at Colt Firearms, Olga longed for adventure. In May 1943 she entered the United States Marine Corps., serving until October 1945. She trained at Camp Lejeune NC, with assignments in Norman, OK and Santa Barbara, CA and worked on the repair and maintenance of airplane wings.

In 1946 after the War, she met Arthur Chudzik dancing at the Polish National Home. They married not too long after, and eventually settled in East Hartford, CT. They both loved to dance and that was part of what bonded their marriage. They were very busy working and successfully raising 5 children (Bill, Mark, Patty, Tom and Janet), and were married for 35 years, until Art unexpectedly died of a heart attack in 1982.

After retirement from the Travelers Insurance Company in 1984, Olga was looking for a change of scenery and moved to Barefoot Bay, Florida, where her sister Mary was living. There she started her second adult life. She was physically active, playing tennis and riding a bicycle into her 90's. In Barefoot Bay she met Tom Langley, and they married in 1988. Together they enjoyed a satisfying life of companionship and travel until he passed in 2014

Olga moved to Manchester CT in 2018. Her wit and sense of humor ripened over the years; as she got older, she was more inclined to say what she was thinking. One of her favorite activities was playing Scrabble with the family. She was very competitive and won as often as not, and no one was letting her win.

She was very independent and encouraged that independence in her children, without expectation. She was a dedicated Catholic, and that was an influence in some of her children to spend a significant part of their lives seeking a spiritual view of life.

Olga is survived by all of her sons and daughters, who loved her very much. She was especially dedicated to keeping tabs on where they were and how life was treating them. She was the "Port in the Storm", and Barefoot Bay is where each of her "kids" would visit to escape into her world. She was the glue of the family. She also kept in touch with several nieces and other friends, and she was important to them.

In addition to her 5 offspring, she leaves as her legacy 6 grandchildren, and 2 great grandchildren, who all saw her often, especially in her later years. She will be missed by all.

In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation to a Veteran's organization of your choice, as she was very proud of her service to the nation as a Marine.

On Wednesday, March 8, a gathering will take place from 10-11 am at Newkirk & Whitney Funeral Home, 318 Burnside Avenue, East Hartford, CT, followed by a short memorial service at 11 am. A Committal Service will follow at 12:15 pm at nearby Hillside Cemetery, Hillside Street, East Hartford. Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.NewkirkandWhitney.com for the Chudzik family.