Zygmont "Zygee" Roszczyk

Zygmunt “Zygee” Franciszek Roszczyk, 94, of Springfield, passed away on Friday, July 6, 2018 at the Jewish Nursing Home in Longmeadow. Zygee was born in Warsaw, Poland on December 5, 1923. He was predeceased by his parents Franciszek and Anastazja ( Krakowiak) Rosczcyk, and three sisters including Maria who survived the war and joined him and his mother in Springfield.  Zygee was a Corporal in the Polish Army and was captured and spent one year as a German prisoner of war before being freed by U. S. troops in 1945. For the next 65 months Zygee served as a civilian with the U. S. Army Labor Repatriation Service in France. He was discharged in 1951 and was free to go to the U. S. and on May 23, 1951 boarded the U.S.N.S. General S. D. Sturgis for Springfield via New York City. Shortly after arrival he began a 31 year career as a baker with A&P Food Stores, retiring in 1981.  Zygee is survived by his loving niece, Barbara Hellich and family of Warsaw, Poland; Godson Walter “Butch” Batchelor and his girlfriend Jeannie Archambault of Chicopee, and Butch’s children Matthew, Justin and Amanda Batchelor, a dear friend Suzanne “Suzie” Carey of Feeding Hills, and her family Katherine Carey and her husband Michael Wolk and their children Maya and Josephine; and Rebecca C. Fagan and her husband Matthew and their son James; Emile B. Chretien and his wife Dorita of North Hampton, N. H., and neighbors Francisco Mestress and his wife Magdalena Otero. Zygee’s friends and neighbors would like to thank the caring staff at JGS, especially Christopher and Jennifer, and Lauren and Dillon with Baystate Hospice. Zygee would want his friends and neighbors to live each day, as did he, with optimism and gratitude. Family and friends will gather and remember Zygee on Friday, July 13, 2018 from 9am-10am at the Byron Keenan Funeral Home and Cremation Tribute Center, 1858 Allen Street, Springfield, MA, 01118. Followed by a Life Celebration Service at 10am. Burial will conclude in St. Michael’s Cemetery in Springfield. Please visit www.byronkeenan.com