Berzenski, Mary "Manya" A. (Banas)
Mary “Manya” A. (Banas) Berzenski, 91, of Tolland passed away peacefully after a brief illness in the early morning hours on Thursday, April 7, 2022, at Woodlake at Tolland Nursing and Rehabilitation Center. She was predeceased in 1999 by her husband of 40 years, Edward Paul Berzenski. Mary was born in Norwich CT, the eighth of eight children to her parents John and Regina (Siwiec) Banas who emigrated from Poland to the USA in 1910. Mary attended Norwich Public Schools and graduated from the Norwich Free Academy in 1949, where she was active in the Chorus, Minstrel, and Camera Club among other extracurricular activities and clubs. Mary married Edward Paul Berzenski in 1959, and their love for each other and their Polish heritage took them traveling to many Polka Festivals and Polka Weekends throughout the Mid-West and New England, and they could often be found gracefully dancing the polka at many Dick Pillar Polkabrations as they were members of the Dick
Pillar Polkabration Band Fan Club. Mary was proud of her Polish heritage and culture and kept some of the Polish phrases and traditions from her younger years alive in the family. She was always at the ready with her camera for most every and any occasion, as her love for photography remained strong. She enjoyed having photo albums to chronicle the travels she and Ed had, as well as her own travels afterwards. Her collection of photos of extended family and friends shows the love she carried for all of them. When Mary wasn't doing the Polka, taking pictures, visiting with friends and family, she spent her days working at US Envelope and for the Town of Tolland. During retirement, she could be found playing Bingo with her Bingo Buddies, enjoying the excitement, fun and camaraderie. Mary was a fiercely independent woman who took care of all her household needs and yard work on her own and would give help to people rather than accept it. Mary will be remembered by many as Mary, by many as Manya, but by all as someone who was interested in what was going on in the world all around her, globally and at home, and who always had something to contribute to any conversation. She will be remembered for the twinkle in her eye when she smiled and her warm and loving heart. Mary is survived by her sister Alice Avery of Ft. Lauderdale FL, her nieces Linda Banas Crawford of Rockledge FL, Rachel Banas Kapinos (David) of Gainesville VA, Deborah Banas Jones (Cass, deceased) of Middletown CT and their families. She is also survived by her stepsons Paul and Edward Berzenski, both of FL and their families. Mary is also
survived by seven great-nieces and nephews, and eight great- great-nieces and -nephews. In addition to her husband Edward and parents John and Regina, Mary was predeceased by her brothers Felix, Teddy, Frank, and Walter, and by her sisters Berta Banas and Veronica Nolan, her nephews William and James Nolan, and a great-niece Nannette Nolan. The family would like to thank the staff at Woodlake at Tolland and the staff from the ECHN Hospice and Palliative Care Program for
the care and compassion given to Mary and to the family. A time of visitation for family and friends will be at the Ladd-Turkington & Carmon Funeral Home, 551 Talcottville Rd. (Rte. 83) in Vernon on Wednesday, April 20, 2022, from 9:00 am-10:30 am followed by a Mass of
Christian Burial at 11:00 am at St. Bernard Church, 25 St. Bernard Terrace in Rockville. Burial will be in St. Bernard's Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions in Mary's memory may be made to the Alzheimer's Association, CT Chapter, 2075 Silas Deane Highway, Rocky Hill CT 06067 or online at www.alz.org. ct or to help Ukrainian refugees in Poland – please consider Operation USA, 7421 Beverly Blvd., PH, Los
Angeles CA 90036 or online at https://www.opusa.org/ (follow links to donate to help Ukrainian refugees in Poland). To leave an online condolence please visit www.carmonfuneralhome.com