Sherwood L. Palczynski

Sherwood (Woody) L. Palczynski, age 94, of Henrico, VA, passed away on September 10, 2025.
He was born in Utica, NY, on May 6, 1931, and was the son of Louis and Stefania (Wilczek) Palczynski. Sherwood was educated at St. Joseph School and Utica Catholic Academy (UCA). He also graduated from The Excelsior School of Business and Mohawk Valley Community College in Utica.
Sherwood married Mary Celuch on May 10, 1969, in Holy Trinity Church in Utica. He lost his loving wife, Mary in 2017, after 48 years of marriage.
Sherwood was a Korean War veteran of the US Air Force, having enlisted in May 1951. Upon discharge from active duty, he joined the active Air Force Reserve and continued his service for 13 years, a combined active duty and active reserve time. Continuing with the Air Force, he worked at Griffiss Air Force Base, NY, and the Rome Air Development Command (RADC) as a contract specialist/officer until his retirement in 1993 after 38 years with the Air Force. He was a member of Post 284, American Legion in Virginia.
After retirement, he and Mary moved from Whitesboro, NY, to Virginia in 1998 to be with their children.
He leaves four children, Roberta "Bobbi" Janus (Chuck), Steven Palczynski (Elizabeth), Michael Palczynski (Ruth), and Christina Hartsfield (Michael), all of Richmond, Virginia; eight grandchildren, Ada Palczynski Cole (Christopher), Michael Jr., Aleksander, Braden, Caroline and Madeleine Palczynski, and Caleigh and Matthew Hartsfield; and one great-grandchild, Eleanor "Ella" Cole. He also leaves his sister, Barbara Palczynski, of Clinton, NY. He was preceded in death by his loving wife, Mary in 2017 and his brother, Richard "Dick" Palczynski in 1994.
Visitation will be held on Thursday, September 18, 2025, from 4 to 6 p.m. at McGrath, Myslinski, Kowalczyk and Nunn Funeral Directors, 470 French Rd. Utica NY. A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated on Friday, September 19, 2025, at 10:30 a.m. at Holy Trinity Church in Utica, NY. He will be interred at Holy Trinity Cemetery, Yorkville, next to his wife, Mary.
In lieu of flowers, remembrances in Sherwood's name may be made to St. Jude Children's Research Hospital. Envelopes will be available at the funeral home ( or online at www.stjude.org)
Messages of sympathy at www.mmknfd.com.