SUTTON___Andre M. Kozaczka, 59, of Sutton, died Thursday, January 8, 2009 in his home surrounded by his family after a long battle with cancer.
He leaves his wife of 30 years, Teresa F. (Garstka) Kozaczka, his children, Thomas J. Kozaczka and his wife Ewa of Worcester; Andre W. Kozaczka of Burlington, VT., and his fiancée, Chelsea Singley, Julie D. Kozaczka of Sutton and Gregory A. Kozaczka of Worcester; a granddaughter, Natalee Kozaczka, his mother, Janina Kozaczka of Worcester; his brother and sisters, Stanley Kozaczka of Worcester; Barbara Gruszka and her husband, Joseph, of Millbury; Wieslawa Miller of Worcester; Jolanta Sobiech and her husband, Stanley, of Oxford; Bozena Dudek and her husband, Adam, of Worcester; Mary Cronin and her husband, Kenneth, of Colorado and Anna Rogers and her husband, Edward, of Douglas and many loving nieces and nephews. He was born and raised in Smegorzow, Poland a son of Janina (Bania) Kozaczka and the late Wladyslaw Kozaczka and immigrated to Worcester in 1967. For the past 25 years he lived in Sutton.
Andre was passionate about his family and work. After graduating from the College of the Holy Cross in 1974 he worked at Bunge Limited in New York City. He later returned to Worcester and founded Magna Finance Company, Inc. in 1980. A successful entrepreneur, Andre also later established Mainstream Insurance Agency and as well owned College Square Video and College Square Laundromat. Andre also enjoyed taking care of his many plants, traveling to Cape Cod, collecting paintings and antiques and especially loved to pick wild mushrooms with his family. He was a member of Our Lady of Czestochowa Church.
The funeral will be held on Monday, January 12 from HENRY-DIRSA FUNERAL HOME, 33 Ward Street, Worcester with a Mass at 10:30 a.m. in Our Lady of Czestochowa Church, 34 Ward Street, Worcester. Burial will be in Notre Dame Cemetery, Worcester. Calling hours in the funeral home are Sunday, January 11 from 3:00 to 6:00 p.m.