Sophie E. Walczyk

Sophie Walczyk, aged 94, passed away peacefully on February 15, 2025 in New York. She had been a resident of Queens and Manhasset, New York for much of her adult life. She was born on February 10, 1931 in Katowice, Poland to Jakob and Sabina Kuzniar and had an older brother whom she adored. She was preceded in death by her loving husband, George Walczyk, whom she was married to for almost 60 years.
Sophie will be lovingly remembered by her three children; Arthur, John and Michelle. She will also be fondly remembered by her seven beautiful grandchildren whom she dearly loved. Her grandchildren are John, Christian, Kayla, James, Shane, Danielle and Sophia.
Sophie was actually born as Elizabeth Sophia, but her name was changed to Sophia (a.k.a “Sophie”) as a young Jewish girl living in Poland during World War II. Sadly, she was separated from and lost her family during the war. Thankfully, however, her family had been good friends with a priest, whose sister then took her in and raised Sophie. She converted to the Catholic Religion and flourished with this family. Sophie was also very intelligent and involved in sports. She actually played on the Polish National Volleyball team. Sophie loved to play tennis and snow ski as well.
Sophie attended medical school in Poland at the University of Wroclaw at a time when hardly any women attended medical school. On the first day, Sophie met George Walczyk, her future husband. He always said that when he first saw her, he thought that she was the most beautiful woman he ever saw. The couple went through medical school together as well as the Communist takeover of Poland. Sophie and George then were married. Eventually, they were granted permission to go to France for their honeymoon, but George and Sophie secretly were planning their escape from the Communist takeover of Poland and knew that they would not return. They stayed in France for one year while they awaited entry into the US. Sophie and George had their first son, Arthur, in France.
Sophie and Arthur were granted visas into the US first. They arrived in Queens, New York where their only U.S. relative, our dear “Auntie” lived. George was granted entry soon afterward. Eventually, they did their medical residencies in New York and became doctors. They had two more children, John and Michelle. They lived in Parkway Village, Queens at first and then eventually settled in Manhasset, New York.
Sophie was a resilient and beautiful woman. She battled colon cancer at age 70 and beat this disease, went through three back surgeries, and lived through World War II and the Communist take over of Poland. For all that she went through, Sophie was always a loving mother and best
friend, as well as grandmother and wife. She was a gentle spirit and a kind soul with a loving touch and smile for everyone. Sophie passed away peacefully in her sleep on February 15, 2025. She will be sorely missed, but as she said toward the end of her life, she will always be in our hearts and we will always be in hers.
Sophie is now with God in Heaven and with her beloved mother, father, brother, aunt, and husband. We will see her again one day.

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