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Valentina ‘Tina’ Oparowski, 99

ADAMS, Mass. — Valentina Veronica (Gajda) Oparowski, 99, of Adams, died Saturday, May 27, 2017, at the Westerly Hospital in Westerly, R.I., surrounded by her loving family. 

She was born in Scranton, Penn., on October 10, 1917, a daughter of the late Martin and Anna (Prucnal) Gajda. She moved to Poland with her family as a child and lived there for 14 years, where she attended school. She then returned to the United States, living in Pittsburgh, Penn., until coming to Adams in 1940. 

"Tina" had worked at the former Berkshire Fine Spinning Co. in Adams for 18 years and at the former Sprague Electric Co. in North Adams for 16 years. 

She was a communicant of St. Stanislaus Kostka Church, Adams, and was a member of its Rosary Sodality for 63 years. She was an active volunteer at church functions and its food pantry. She was also involved with the Girl Scouts for several years. 

She loved playing with her nine grandchildren and nine great-grandchildren, and enjoyed gardening, sewing, cooking, cross-stitching, and coloring. She also loved to travel with her family. 

She and her husband, Walter A. Oparowski, were married on May 24, 1941, in St. Stanislaus Kostka Church by the late Rev. Joseph Sitkowski. Walter died on August 21, 2003. 

She is survived by three daughters, Frances Dupre and her husband, Michael Dupre Sr., of Manchester, N.H., Joanne Haytaian of Westerly, R.I., and Maryann St. John of Bennington, Vt.; nine grandchildren, Michael Dupre Jr. and his wife Jennifer, Melinda Cyr and her husband Jeffrey, Marc Dupre and his wife Anne, Matthew Dupre, Benjamin Haytaian and his wife Erin, Jessie French and her husband Levi, Andrew St. John, Aaron St. John, and Christiana St. John and her husband, Benjamin Adams; nine great-grandchildren, Nicholas, Ethan, Michael Joseph, Nathan, Mason and Leia Dupre, Harper Haytaian, and Maisey and Jovie Valentina French; four step-great-grandchildren whom she equally loved, Taylor and Bradley Cyr and Easton and Madison French; one sister, Louise Strzepek; and many nieces, nephews, grandnieces and grandnephews. 

She was predeceased by three sisters, Frances Wojcik, Mary Prokop and Janina Gajda; and by four brothers, Stanley, Edward, Casimer and Walter Gajda. 

Funeral notice: The funeral will be held on Friday, June 2, 2017, at 11 a.m. from the Paciorek Funeral Home, 13 Hoosac St. Adams, followed by a Liturgy of Christian Burial at noon in St. Stanislaus Kostka Church, Adams. Burial will follow in St. Stanislaus Kostka Cemetery. 

Calling hours are Thursday, June 1, 2017, from 5 to 7 p.m. at the funeral home. Members of the St. Stanislaus Rosary Sodality will meet at the funeral home at 4:45 p.m. on Thursday to pay their respects and recite the Rosary. Memorial donations may be made to St. Stanislaus Kostka School, 108 Summer St., Adams, MA 01220.


Obituary Provided By: Paciorek Funeral Home

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