Stephen A. Chmura

Indian Orchard – Stephen A. Chmura, 66, died peacefully at home on Friday, March 17th, 2017.  Born in Springfield to the late Stephen J. and Steffie C.  (Smith) Chmura, Stephen was a lifelong area resident and a communicant of Immaculate Conception Church.  He was a retired Corrections Officer of the State of Connecticut working in several of the Somers Correctional Institutions during his twenty-year career.  He was employed as a part-time security guard at Baystate Medical Center for a number of years following retirement.  As a young man, Stephen worked at Chmura’s Bakery, the family business, and later pursued additional training at the Dunwoody Institute’s baking school in Minneapolis, Minnesota.  He served in the Army Air National Guard and attended Holyoke Community College.  Stephen had many interests and hobbies including lifelong interests in the sport of boxing, ham radio operations, and cinematography and early movies.  Following his passion for Laurel and Hardy films, Stephen became an active member of the Sons of the Desert Society and enjoyed participating in the organization’s many activities and programs.  Locally, he was a longtime member of the Polish Young Men’s Alliance.  He enjoyed the companionship of a circle of lifetime friends, some of whom he had known since elementary school, and looked forward to their get-togethers for breakfast and for pizza and birthday celebrations.  He also enjoyed time spent with his nieces and their families, particularly during holidays and family events, and in discussing current and historical events with them. 

Stephen leaves his three nieces, Denise Matuszczak, her husband Michael, and their children Catherine and Michael Jr.  of Wilbraham, Lisa Liptak, her husband Paul, and their children Lindsay, Mackenzie, Kylie, and Paul of Russell, and Stephanie Reynolds and her husband Gary of Carlsbad, CA.  In addition to his parents, Stephen was predeceased by his brother, John A. Chmura, who passed away in 2006. 

Funeral services will be held Friday, March 24th at 10:00 a.m. from Nowak Funeral and Cremation Services, 15 Ludlow Avenue, Springfield proceeding to Immaculate Conception Church for a Liturgy of Christian Burial at 11:00 a.m.  Rites of committal will follow in Hillcrest Park Cemetery.  Calling hours will be held Thursday, March 23rd from 6:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m.  Memorial contributions may be made to Hartford Hospital, Attn:  Fund Development, 80 Seymour St. P.O. Box 5037, Hartford, CT 06102.