Obituary for Justina "Tina" Marcinczyk
Justina “Tina” Mary Marcinczyk, 81, of Pittsfield, MA, passed away January 1, 2021, at Berkshire Medical Center due to complications from Covid 19.
Born in Pittsfield on May 28, 1939, she was the daughter of John P. and Rose M. Kruczkowski Marcinczyk.
Tina was a graduate of St. Joseph High School in Pittsfield (1956), North Adams State College, now MCLA (1960), and Cardinal Stritch University in Milwaukee, Wisconsin (1965).
Tina began her career teaching First Grade at Pomeroy School. After completing her Master’s Degree, she was hired by the Department of Defense Dependents Schools, where she taught at various overseas schools, including Guantánamo Bay Cuba, Iceland, Turkey, Scotland, Germany, and Japan. Teaching overseas gave her the opportunity to travel the world, where she embraced learning from many different cultures. Upon returning to Pittsfield to care for her mother who was ill, Tina worked for the Pittsfield School system as a reading specialist at Rice School, Tucker School and at Conte Community School (West Side), for over 30 years. Tina truly loved her position as a reading teacher and retired in 2004.
After both parents passed away, Tina maintained the family homestead and carried on the Polish family traditions of Easter Brunch and Christmas Eve Wigilia.
She was an avid reader and had a large and eclectic collection of children’s books, cookbooks, and other genres. Her early travels had instilled in her a life-long love of foreign cuisines She enjoyed gifting books to her family, friends and students. Tina was a member of the Real Women’s Essay Committee, the Pittsfield College Club, and she also enjoyed volunteering at Tanglewood’s Glass House, Berkshire Theatre Group, and Barrington Stage Company.
Tina was a loving and generous daughter, sister, sister-in-law, aunt, cousin, and friend.
Survivors include her brothers, Valentine Marcinczyk of Pittsfield, Paul Marcinczyk and wife Kathryn of Chesterfield, MA, her sisters, Aniela St. Peter of Lakewood, CO, Rose Ann Sturgeon and husband Bill of Pittsfield, her cherished nieces and nephews, Jay P. Marcinczyk, Christopher Marcinczyk, Dr. Jason St. Peter, O.D.(Christa), David St. Peter (Megan), Stephanie Cathers (Justin), Ellen McGrath (Brad), Kristen Larson (Kevin), and Patrick Sturgeon (Tina). Aunt Tina was close to her nieces and nephews, and shared her love of travel with them by taking some of them on trips with her, and always sharing souvenirs from her adventures. She also leaves her nineteen grandnieces and grandnephews, and her dear friends, Sylvia Gingras, Judy Daly, and Paulette LaPalm.
Tina was predeceased by her brother-in-law, Francis E. St. Peter, Ed.D, her sister-in-law, Mary Jane Marcinczyk RN, and her beloved niece, Cindy Marcinczyk.
FUNERAL NOTICE: Tina was a life-long member of Holy Family Church until its closing, and then St. Joseph’s Church. Due to COVID-19, a Memorial Mass and services will be held at a later date, with burial at St. Joseph’s Cemetery in Pittsfield. If friends desire, memorial contributions may be made to Conte Community School (for educational/instructional materials) or to the St. Joseph’s Church Food Pantry, in care of Dery Funeral Home, 54 Bradford St, Pittsfield, MA 01201.
Born in Pittsfield on May 28, 1939, she was the daughter of John P. and Rose M. Kruczkowski Marcinczyk.
Tina was a graduate of St. Joseph High School in Pittsfield (1956), North Adams State College, now MCLA (1960), and Cardinal Stritch University in Milwaukee, Wisconsin (1965).
Tina began her career teaching First Grade at Pomeroy School. After completing her Master’s Degree, she was hired by the Department of Defense Dependents Schools, where she taught at various overseas schools, including Guantánamo Bay Cuba, Iceland, Turkey, Scotland, Germany, and Japan. Teaching overseas gave her the opportunity to travel the world, where she embraced learning from many different cultures. Upon returning to Pittsfield to care for her mother who was ill, Tina worked for the Pittsfield School system as a reading specialist at Rice School, Tucker School and at Conte Community School (West Side), for over 30 years. Tina truly loved her position as a reading teacher and retired in 2004.
After both parents passed away, Tina maintained the family homestead and carried on the Polish family traditions of Easter Brunch and Christmas Eve Wigilia.
She was an avid reader and had a large and eclectic collection of children’s books, cookbooks, and other genres. Her early travels had instilled in her a life-long love of foreign cuisines She enjoyed gifting books to her family, friends and students. Tina was a member of the Real Women’s Essay Committee, the Pittsfield College Club, and she also enjoyed volunteering at Tanglewood’s Glass House, Berkshire Theatre Group, and Barrington Stage Company.
Tina was a loving and generous daughter, sister, sister-in-law, aunt, cousin, and friend.
Survivors include her brothers, Valentine Marcinczyk of Pittsfield, Paul Marcinczyk and wife Kathryn of Chesterfield, MA, her sisters, Aniela St. Peter of Lakewood, CO, Rose Ann Sturgeon and husband Bill of Pittsfield, her cherished nieces and nephews, Jay P. Marcinczyk, Christopher Marcinczyk, Dr. Jason St. Peter, O.D.(Christa), David St. Peter (Megan), Stephanie Cathers (Justin), Ellen McGrath (Brad), Kristen Larson (Kevin), and Patrick Sturgeon (Tina). Aunt Tina was close to her nieces and nephews, and shared her love of travel with them by taking some of them on trips with her, and always sharing souvenirs from her adventures. She also leaves her nineteen grandnieces and grandnephews, and her dear friends, Sylvia Gingras, Judy Daly, and Paulette LaPalm.
Tina was predeceased by her brother-in-law, Francis E. St. Peter, Ed.D, her sister-in-law, Mary Jane Marcinczyk RN, and her beloved niece, Cindy Marcinczyk.
FUNERAL NOTICE: Tina was a life-long member of Holy Family Church until its closing, and then St. Joseph’s Church. Due to COVID-19, a Memorial Mass and services will be held at a later date, with burial at St. Joseph’s Cemetery in Pittsfield. If friends desire, memorial contributions may be made to Conte Community School (for educational/instructional materials) or to the St. Joseph’s Church Food Pantry, in care of Dery Funeral Home, 54 Bradford St, Pittsfield, MA 01201.