Rozalia Romanowski

Rozalia (Cerkovnik) Romanowski, lovingly known to many as Babcia, was born in Dobromyl, Lviv, which at that time in 1921 was part of Poland. In just three weeks, on May 27th, she would have celebrated her 102nd birthday.

Back in Lviv, she lived with her family on a small farm. As World War ll commenced, Rozalia was taken from her family by the Nazis. She and about 50 other women of all ages, had to lay the railroad ties for the German army. After the war ended, Rozalia remained in Germany living in a DP (displaced persons) Camp working in one factory, as a stitcher. She met and married her husband, Pavel, and they immigrated to the USA in 1949.

Rozalia and Paul, who preceded her in death at age 87, began their life in America in what was called the West End of Boston, behind Massachusetts General Hospital, then lived in Cambridge and Arlington. She spent her life working hard as a stitcher, in retirement as a bagger in Stop and Shop, tending her little garden and painting and wallpapering her home. Rozalia never returned to Lviv though some 40+ years later was reunited with one of her sisters here in America then a niece and her husband were able to come over to visit as well.

Rozalia sang in her church choir for years and loved being at services, helping in the church kitchen for events or tending the church grounds with others. Rozalia and her husband were so grateful to be in America and proud to become citizens. Her strength of character and body were admired by those who knew her. A favorite pastime of Rozalias was to attend her grandsons and granddaughters Little League baseball games, high school baseball and field hockey games and her grandsons professional baseball games. She loved to entertain and cook, especially her pierogi (vareniki), and holubtsi (stuffed cabbage). She also spent countless hours with her two grandchildren playing, going for walks and most of all cooking whatever they wanted. Rozalia also loved watching her daughters and years later her granddaughters dance recitals. Rozalia enjoyed watching and critiquing the Red Sox, and attended her first Red Sox game in her nineties, watching the Patriots (even though she didnt always understand the game), and her weekly trips to the corner store for her scratch tickets.

She leaves behind her daughter, Lillian (Romanowski) and son-in-law Warren Lelless of Westford. She also leaves behind the loves of her life, grandson Alexander Lelless of Westford, and granddaughter, Natalie (Lelless) and her husband Nicholas Mochi of Arlington.

Visiting Hours will be held on Wednesday, May 10 from 4 7 pm at the Blake Chelmsford Funeral Home, 24 Worthen St., Chelmsford. Her Funeral Service will be held on Thursday at 10 am at Holy Trinity Orthodox Cathedral, 165 Park Drive, Boston. KINDLY GATHER AT THE CHURCH. Interment to follow in St. Josephs Cemetery, West Roxbury. In lieu of flowers, the family asks friends to make contributions to Alzheimer research at alz.org. Though Rozalias Dementia came in her extreme old age, she saw friends and family suffer from the disease and wanted researchers to keep working on a cure. She was loved by many and will be missed by all. Memory eternal Babcia.

Service Details
Visitation
When
May 10, 2023 4:00pm - 7:00pm
Location
Blake Chelmsford Funeral Home
Address
24 Worthen Street
Chelmsford, MA 01824

Funeral Service
When
May 11, 2023 10:00am
Location
Holy Trinity Orthodox Cathedral
Address
165 Park Drive
Boston, MA 02215

Interment
When
May 11, 2023 11:30am
Location
St. Joseph Cemetery (West Roxbury)
Address
990 LaGrange Street
WEST ROXBURY, MA 02132