Sophie Ostasiewski
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Sophie Ostasiewski, 90, died peacefully in her sleep Sunday, May 23rd after complications from a series of strokes.
Born in Meriden on September 23rd, 1930 to Stanley and Sophie Kokoszka, Sophie attended school in Hamden and graduated from Hamden High. Sometime after her graduation she returned to Meriden where she met her husband, Raymond. They raised four sons there before moving to Florida in the early eighties. Sophie lived in Florida for seven years until her husband's death. Soon after she returned to Meriden, eventually finding residence with her son Ron's family, where she remained for thirty years until her death. Back in Meriden she worked for many years in the kitchen of Coccomo's nursing home. But her main job was as a grandmother and chauffeur to her grandchildren and their friends. This opened her up to a new generation who embraced her. She was "Gram" to all.
In her more mobile years, she enjoyed numerous train rides to New York with her sister Helen to visit their sons and short trips to the casino. In later years she loved to watch golf on TV, particularly following her favorite golfer, Jordan Speith. But most of her time was spent as unofficial neighborhood watch on her front porch with a cup of coffee, a Virginia slim, and her beloved dogs Pete and Goldie. Described as "sweet and salty", Sophie was a kind and loving woman filled with many unfiltered and comical quotes that will be cherished forever. Sophie was survived by her sister, Helen Wietrak, four sons and daughters in-law, Steve and Lynn, Ray and Joanie, Ron and Chanel, Ben and Kate, grandchildren Matt (Paula), Brett (Nicole), Colin, Craig, Daniel, Alexei and Carly Ostasiewski, Nikki (Justin) Tobe, great-grandchildren Ellie and Cole Tobe, and countless nieces and nephews and their extended families. She is also survived by a very special grandson and sparring partner Dylan Ostasiewski. Sophie and Dylan spent most every night together laughing, arguing, eating, watching tv, sharing smokes and jokes. They will miss each other deeply. She was predeceased by her husband Raymond and his six siblings, her brothers Edward, Henry, Louis, Julian, Stanley, her sisters Antoinette, Frances, Theofila, Agnes, Marion, and their spouses. She was also predeceased by nephews Bob Wietrak, Ethan Kokoszka, nieces Frances Jakiela, Ellen Satagai and Joanne Smith. Sophie was immensely proud of her expansive Kokoszka family and heritage. In lieu of flowers, please spend all monies and time with your families. Life is too short even if it's ninety years.
Her family will receive relatives and friends at the Meriden Memorial Funeral Home, 450 Broad St., Wednesday, June 2, from 4 p.m. until 7 p.m. A funeral service will begin at 7 p.m. Interment will be private in St. Stanislaus Cemetery. For online expressions of sympathy visit: www.meridenmemorialfh.com