Stella M. Palimas

Stella M. Palimas Stella M. (Luczak) Palimas, age 84, died on Friday, May 30, 2008 at Filosa Convalescent Home after a short illness. She was born September 14, l923, daughter of the late Boleslaw and Helena Mrozinski. Her parents, escaping a concentration camp, emigrated from Poland to Brookfield as newly-weds with trunk in hand filled with clothing and dishes. Her father passed away at a young age which left her mother to raise eight children. Stella was forced to leave high school at the age of 16, and help her mother with the younger children, while the older brothers went to war. Stella sacrificed her desire to become a nurse to help support the family. Her happiness began when she met and fell in love with John James Luczak of Bethel. She and John were married in September of 1944, after his return from World War II with the U.S. Marines Corps. They eventually built their own home on 1 Melillo Avenue, Bethel, where they raised three children. However, Stella became a widow after loosing John at the age of 37. Her dedication to the U.S. Marine Corps was always evident, her pride increased as a variety of family members chose the same branch of enlistment as John had. Stella was known to be extremely proud of her Polish Heritage. To everyone that knew her, she was a hard and strong working woman, trying to keep everything in balance to raise her family alone. She was a self taught seamstress, sewing all her children's coats and clothing, as well as working in a shirt factory. Stella excelled in cooking Polish/American meals, and loved the challenge of doing it from scratch, making it all perfect. It was a pleasure for her to have family gatherings for holidays, and she always outdid herself with her cooking and baking. She always made the biggest bee-hive apple pies....her husband's favorite. Stella enjoyed her summer flower gardening, as well as her pride in her vegetable garden. She would preserve for the family by canning, pickling, making jams, horse-radish, her own root beer, tomato sauces, and soups, etc. She also taught herself how to do ceramics, painting free hand holiday pictures on the picture windows, embroidery, needlepoint, and crocheting. She was a natural who learned very easily teaching herself. She also became a "Florence Nightingale," to all her siblings and children. Anyone who became ill, she was there to cook and attend their needs. Stella was predeceased by her loving brothers, Roman, Ted, John, Walt, and Carl Mrozinski and her sister, Mary Hagar. She was also predeceased by her second husband, Andy Palimas. Stella leaves her daughters, Ginny Lattin and husband, Burt of Brookfield and Linda Luczak of Danbury; son, John Luczak and his wife, Vicki of Roxbury; her five grandchildren, Kelly Kennard of Sherman, Troy Kennard of Brookfield, Robin Repole-Thongkham of Bethel, Shelby DeLucia-Burnett of Westchester, N.Y. and Matthew Luczak of Danbury; plus, two great-grandchildren, Ryan and Drew VonWerne of Sherman. She is also survived by her brother, Louie and wife, Olga of Redding; a sisters-in-law, Mabel of Brookfield and Sara Mrozinski of Knoxville, Tenn.; as well as and many nieces and nephews. The family wishes to extent all their heart filled thanks to the care and love from everyone at Filosa Convalescent Home and to "TESS," the therapy puppy who always made our mother laugh and smile and also the extended kindness and comfort care from Hospice. Any donations may be sent to the Recreational Department of Filosa Convalescent Home, 13 Hakim St., Danbury, CT 06810. A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated Wednesday, June 4, 2008 at 10 a.m. at St. Mary Church in Bethel. Burial will follow in St. Mary Cemetery. The family will receive friends in the Cornell Memorial Home, 247 White Street, Danbury, Tuesday evening between the hours of 5 and 8 p.m. To light a candle of hope and remembrance please visit our website at www.CornellMemorial.com.