Monica (Waskiewicz) Guzikowski

Monica Guzikowski (Monika Waskiewicz) died on August 6, 2021. She was 97 years old. A lifelong resident of Syracuse, NY, Monica had an intense curiosity and fierce spirit. She was a writer, and her creative, curious spirit inspired her children and grandchildren, many of whom are writers, artists, and musicians. She was the family photographer and story-keeper. Her diaries, scrapbooks and photo albums are especially precious to us. Monica graduated from Eastside High School and was a long-time employee of Dey Brothers. Monica had a strong sense of civic duty and was a poll worker for the Onondaga Board of Elections. She loved to travel. She was a founding member of St. Anne’s Church. Monica was blessed to be a child of Rosalia and Josef Waskiewicz. She was very proud of her parents. Her siblings and their spouses predeceased her but were always a cherished part of her life: Chester (Helen) Waskiewicz, Joseph (Florence) Waskiewicz, Anne (James) McAndrews, Agnes (Stanley) Kaczmarczyk and Helen (Edward) Zrebiec Gleason. Her brother-in-law, Carl Zrebiec also predeceased her. Her dearly loved husband, Matthew J. Guzikowski, predeceased her in 2013, after 66 years of sharing their lives together. They had two beloved sons: Richard (Jennifer) of Bath, Maine; and Robert (Karen) of Vestal. Jennifer, Robert, and Karen survive her. To her great heartbreak, Richard predeceased her in 2019. Also surviving are her most precious grandchildren and great-grandsons: Aaron and Alison Guzikowski (Foster, Quint and Valis), Adam Guzikowski and Emma Guzikowski. She was so very happy you all belonged to her. You each enriched her life beyond measure. Her brother in-law Zygmund Guzikowski, and sister-in-law, Celia Guzikowski, survive her. She is predeceased by her brothers and sisters-in-law: Edmund and Rose Guzikowski, Carl Guzikowski, and Harriet Guzikowski. Surviving her are nieces and nephews: Chester (Jean) Waskiewicz, Robert (Tina) Waskiewicz, Marsha Ryan, Helene (Hans) Hertig, Susan Waskiewicz, James McAndrews, Diane (Gary) Urtel, Dolores (Michael) Jurbala, Carlene Perrotti, Deborah (James) Robinson, Kathleen (Bruce) McDaniels, Carl Guzikowski, Tony (Mary) Guzikowski, Joseph (Margaret) Guzikowski and their children and grandchildren. Predeceasing her are nephews Edmund Guzikowski, William Ryan, Stanley Waskiewicz, and Stanley J. Kaczmarczyk ll. She had many very dear friends. Among them, Jo Lukas, Irene O’Donnell, Joan and Jim Gorman, Joe and Mary Dyba were truly family to her. Laraine and Edward Cummings, Jennifer’s parents, and William D. Keefe, Karen’s father, predeceased Monica as did Dorothy L. Marquart, all cherished friends. We are so very grateful to the many professionals who provided such compassionate and important care to Monica during the last years of her life, especially Crystal, Jessica Rea, Danielle Ryan, Pat Posey, Dawn Olmstead, Jennifer Amerman, Debbie Perl, the staffs of Elderwood Village East-Vestal and Willow Point Nursing Home, Vestal, NY; the Nurse Practitioners at United Health Care, and Dr. Kimberly Crum, Lourdes Geriatrics, Binghamton. Giminski Wysocki Funeral Home, 1320 West Genesee St. Syracuse provided after-death care for Monica. There will be a private ceremony for the family at a future date. In her memory, please consider a donation to the Food Bank of Central New York; https://foodbankcny.org or the American Cancer Society; https://www.cancer.org/involved/donate/memorial-giving.html