Thaddeus Leja

Thaddeus J. Leja, 88, of 21 Powers St. passed away on Saturday, March 15, 2008. Born in Adams on Oct. 27, 1919, son of John and Mary Banas Leja, he attended St. Stanislaus School and the former Adams High School. In 1937, at the age of 18, he enlisted in the Army, and served until the end of World War II, spending the entire war in the Pacific Theater of Operation. He was a survivor of the Iwo Jima amphibious landing, and was awarded the Navy Unit Commendation Ribbon, Bronze Star, American Service Medal, Asiatic Pacific Service Medal, Good Conduct Medal, and Bronze Service Arrowhead. When discharged in November of 1945, he held the rank of Staff Sergeant. Mr. Leja was an employee of General Electric Company in Pittsfield until his retirement in 1981. He was a communicant of St. Stanislaus Kostka Church, and a member of the St. Stanislaus Kostka Society, G.E. Pensioners, G.E. Quarter Century Club, American Legion, Berkshire Seniors Men, and Forest Park Country Club. After his retirement, he served as a volunteer at the North Adams Regional Hospital. He was an avid sports fan, and especially enjoyed golf, bowling, hunting, fishing, and the Red Sox. His hobbies included reading and mushrooming, and he became an adept video game player in his final years. He leaves a son, David M. Leja, his daughter-in-law, Anne, and grandson, Michael, all of Williamstown; granddaughter, Katie of North Adams, and granddaughter, Denise Smith and her husband, Justin Smith of Richmond, Va. He also leaves two sisters, Helen Lubowicz and Felicia Skowronski, both of Adams, and his brother, Ernest Leja of Henderson, Nev., as well as many nieces, nephews, and both great and grandnieces and nephews. His beloved wife of 51 years, Stephanie Nowak Leja, pre-deceased him in 1998. After the passing of his wife, he met a dear companion, Nancy Barrows, who passed away in 2005 Three sisters, Veronica Starsiak, Celia Frodyma, and Sophie Kalisz, as well as his two brothers, Frank Leja and Stanley Leja, also pre-deceased him. FUNERAL NOTICE: The funeral will be Tuesday, March 25, at 11 a.m. from the PACIOREK FUNERAL HOME, 13 Hoosac St. Adams, followed by a Liturgy of Christian Burial at Noon in St. Stanislaus Kostka Church, celebrated by the Rev. Daniel J. Boyle, pastor of the Catholic Parishes of Adams. Burial will follow in St. Stanislaus Kostka Cemetery. Calling hours will be Monday, March 24, from 4 to 7 p.m. at the funeral home. The family would ask that donations be made in his memory to the Jimmy Fund, to help children with cancer, through the funeral home.

Thaddeus Leja

March 21, 2008