Patricia (Skarzynski) Pronko

Patricia (Skarzynski) Pronko passed away on Thursday, June 11, 2015 surrounded by her loving daughters, granddaughter, and great-granddaughters. She was 91 years old, born February 2, 1924 to Walclaw and Rose Skarzynski in Springfield, MA.

She was educated at Cathedral High School, Springfield, MA .

Patricia met her husband John Pronko when she was 22 years old.  She waited for him to return from his military service in WWII until at which time they married on February 2, 1947; they celebrated their Honeymoon in New York City.

They were blessed with their first child in 1949, daughter Linda Mary.  After 7 years of trying to have another child and many, many prayers to St. Jude, a second daughter was born in 1956, Judith Ann.

Patricia was a stay at home mother and homemaker until 1965 when she returned to the work force with the intention of starting to save money, insistent that her daughters would go to college.

She worked many jobs during her life; factory work, sales clerk at Sears, teachers aid in the Springfield School System, Nurses Aid in the old Ludlow Hospital and finally retiring from the Springfield City Library-Pine Point Branch in 1980, where she was the Circulation Supervisor.

Patricia and her husband John were lucky enough to retire at a very young age; her 56 and him 57.  They traveled around the United States in their car for 3 months, sometimes sleeping in their tent and sometimes in local motels. Their travels took them to Poland, Hawaii, the Caribbean, Cape Cod, Florida and finally one last big trip to Aruba for their 60th wedding anniversary.

One of Patricia's greatest joys was the birth of her grandchildren, Katelyn (daughter of Jude), and Andrew and James (sons of Linda). 

Her joy and love of children was the center of her world. She had been blessed again to be able to see the arrival of her two great-granddaughters; Emma Rose and Abigail Rose (daughters of) Katelyn. 

Patricia was a talented woman; she spent time knitting, painting, and crafting. She loved nature, being outdoors, camping, and even accompanying John on his fishing expeditions.  She was an avid bird watcher and loves animals of every kind.  She had a tender heart for cats and dogs in particular and has had many throughout her life.

Her life was celebrated at a small graveside ceremony at Saint Aloysius Cemetery with just her immediate  family. She was a woman whose gentle hand touched all those around her and she will be deeply missed.