WEBSTER – Bertha (Gwozdz) O’Connell, 96, of 29 Morris Street, died Friday, March 7, at home after an illness. Her husband of 27 years, Edward V. O’Connell, died in 1966.
She leaves a sister, Theresa A. Gwozdz, with whom she lived; nephews and nieces. She was preceded in death by four brothers, Charles, Joseph, Anthony and Felix Gwozdz, and by two sisters, Agnes Morgan and Victoria McLaughlin.
She was born in Jewett City, CT, the oldest of the 8 children of Peter J. and Katherine (Krawiec) Gwozdz. She graduated from Uxbridge High School and then attended Becker Junior College in Worcester. After passing the Civil Service examination, she took a position as clerk-typist at the inception of the Veterans’ Administration in Washington . She then worked at its office in Boston before retiring in 1965. In 1993, she moved to the family home in Webster.
She was a member of Saint Joseph Basilica.
The funeral will be held Tuesday, March 11, from Scanlon Funeral Service, 38 East Main Street, with a Mass at 10:00 AM in Saint Joseph Basilica, 53 Whitcomb Street. Burial will be in Saint Joseph Garden of Peace. A calling period will be from 8:15 to 9:15 AM Tuesday, March 11, in the funeral home. In lieu of flowers, donations in her name may be made to either St. Joseph Basilica, 53 Whitcomb Street, Webster, MA 01570 or to Asera Hospice Care/ HPC Foundation for Hospice Care, 4 Mount Royal Avenue, Marlborough, MA 01752.