Teresa Magnuszewski

Teresa (Fiertek) Magnuszewski, 88, of New Britain, passed away peacefully at home after a long illness on Sunday, Dec. 11, with her children by her side. Teresa was predeceased by her husband Henry Jan Magnuszewski, and seven of her siblings.
Born in Brzozowo, Poland, daughter of the late Jan Fiertek and Rozalia (Szymanska) Fiertek, she worked on her family farm and was a volunteer fire fighter prior to moving to the United States for a better life with her brother Frank in 1964. They first lived in Williamsburg, Brooklyn NY. She worked hard for low wages as a garment worker at a local sweatshop with other immigrants.
Teresa and Frank relocated to New Britain when Michael Budney recruited them and other Polish immigrants to work at Atlantic Machine.
She was employed at Stanley Tools as a machine operator in the hand tools division for 30 years prior to retirement. During her employment there, she participated in WalkAmerica charitable, walking events raising money for the March of Dimes.Teresa was a devout Catholic and Parishioner at Sacred Heart Church. She loved to sing the Polish hymns during Mass, at home, and in the car.
She also volunteered making pierogi before many Sacred Heart Church bazaars. Teresa and her husband Henry were members of the Polish American Congress, and both proudly became U.S. citizens.
Teresa was famous for her beautiful gardens. She grew gorgeous indoor and outdoor flowers, plants, trees, and vegetables. She truly had a green thumb. She often shared her plant clippings and vegetables with neighbors, friends, and family. Teresa also loved to knit, crochet, and sew. She often sewed dresses and outfits out of intricate fabrics for herself and her daughter when she was little. She was frequently asked where she purchased her and her daughter's fashions and explained that she in fact sewed them herself. She often sewed curtains from beautiful Polish lace, and velvet drapes for her home as well. She knitted gloves, scarves, hats and vests for herself, friends, and female family members. She loved weekend family beach trips to Hammonasset Beach State Park with her close cousin Helena and her family.
Teresa and her husband Henry loved entertaining guests in their home on Sunday afternoons in their dining room. She made everyone feel welcome, including numerous relatives that visited from New York, Florida, and Poland. She also loved going fishing with her son John and her husband Henry. She often reeled in the largest fish. She had a fantastic sense of humor, often joking around, and could make others laugh easily. After her retirement, she and her husband Henry enjoyed taking weekend bus trips with Polish agencies to New York City and the National Shrine of Our Lady of Czestochowa in Beacon Hill Pennsylvania.
The happiest day of her life was the day her granddaughter Ashley was born.
She often babysat Ashley, loved to sing to her, buy her toys and clothing. Teresa knit scarves, hats, and sweaters for her. She loved attending Special Persons Day at Ashley's school. She also loved having Summer Tea Parties with Ashley, her daughter Eva, and her friends. She was a loving, kind, thoughtful and supportive mother and "babci".
She leaves behind her two children, son John Magnuszewski, his wife Jackie, and granddaughter Ashley of Newington, and daughter Eva Magnuszewski of New Britain. She also leaves behind her brother Frank Fiertek and his wife Jadwiga Fiertek of New Britain, numerous cousins, nieces, nephews, and their families here in the United States and in Poland. We would like to extend our deepest gratitude to the emergency responders and various healthcare organizations that guided us with compassion through her last several months.
Calling Hours will be on Friday Dec. 16, 2022 from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m. at New Britain Memorial and Donald D. Sagarino Funeral Home, 444 Farmington Avenue, New Britain, CT. A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated on Saturday, Dec. 17, 2022 at Sacred Heart Church, Broad Street, New Britain at 9:30 a.m. A brief gathering prior to church will be held from 8:30-9 a.m. at the funeral home. She will be laid to rest beside her husband Henry at Sacred Heart Cemetery. For an online memorial, please visit www.NewBritainSagarino.com.