Stanley J. Koczela, 83
ADAMS, Mass. — Stanley Joseph Koczela, 83, of Adams and South Yarmouth died Tuesday, July 7, 2015.
Born in Adams on Jan. 6, 1932, son of Ignatius and Mary Boryczka Koczela, he graduated from the former Adams High School in 1950. He started dribbling basketballs on the floor of Kostka Hall of St. Stanislaus Kostka church. He went all the way to the state high school finals at the Boston Garden and was voted All New England Forward.
He proudly served his country in the Army during the Korean War.
Mr. Koczela was employed as a project manager at the former General Electric in Pittsfield. Prior to that, he graduated from the Sprague Franklin Institute and worked for 35 years at the former Sprague Electric Co. in North Adams.
He met the love of his life, the former Carolyn Cassidy, at the wedding of his best friend. He asked her to dance at the reception, and they were engaged two months later. They married the following year at Sacred Heart in Pittsfield and continued their dance for 57 years.
He loved being a father and husband, and enjoyed many activities, usually related to family: cooking pierogis at parish bazaars, serving as a Eucharistic minister at St. Stanislaus Kostka, or even hitting golf balls with his wife and son. He was especially devoted to his grandchildren and, to the very end, he cherished the sparkle they brought to the world and to his heart.
Mr. Koczela and his wife retired to Cape Cod in 2001, the culmination of a dream following their honeymoon in West Dennis and decades of summer vacations at a family cottage in Dennisport.
Besides his loving wife of 57 years, he leaves two sons, Kevin Koczela of Oakland, Calif., and Christopher Koczela and his wife, Nancy, of Bridgewater; two daughters, Ann Hobart and her husband, Mark, of Milford and Maribeth Sciplini and her husband, Vincent, of Shrewsbury; two brothers, Joseph Koczela and his wife, Beverly, and Edward Koczela and his wife, Ruby, all of Adams; and 10 grandchildren to whom he was papa and dear grandfather, Patrick, Lauren and Ryan Koczela, Emma, Nolan, Ashby, Gillieson and Mason Hobart, and Justin and Isabella Sciplini.
FUNERAL NOTICE — A Memorial Mass for Mr. Koczela will be held Tuesday, July 14, at 11 a.m. at St. Pius X, 5 Barbara St., South Yarmouth, with a graveside service to follow at Massachusetts National Cemetery on Connery Avenue in Bourne.
Family and friends will gather for calling hours Monday, July 13, from 4 to 7 at Morris, O'Connor & Blute, 58 Long Pond Drive, South Yarmouth. In lieu of flowers, remembrances may be made to Hope Hospice of HopeHealth at 765 Attucks Lane, Hyannis, MA 02601.