Julianna Gryko, 78, of Cromwell, beloved wife of Eugeniusz Gryko, passed away on Thursday June 1, 2023 at her home surrounded by her family.  She was born in Poland, daughter of the late Aleksander and Anna Kazberuk.

Julianna is survived by her husband, Eugeniusz, daughters, Grazyna Koza and her husband Kazimierz, Ewa Dawidowski and her husband Krzysztof, and Danuta Osora and her husband Mark, as well as her 7 grandchildren.

Her family was the only thing she loved more than the beautiful countryside of Poland where she came from. Her love for her children, and later grandchildren, brought her to America, where she assumed the role of beloved matriarch for her large family. She always found a way to make sure everyone was eating either fruit, soup, or a gourmet sandwich. She loved to look after her family, and saw to it that everyone who walked through the door felt loved and was well-fed.

Her family and neighbors fondly remember her spending all the time that she could outside, connecting with the land and gardening as she did when she was living in Poland. Her generosity stretches to all sides of the earth and all beings of the earth: including strangers, animals, and family dogs who were smugly fed by their Babcia.

Her grandchildren are lucky to have learned how to make pierogi from the best pierogi maker, although they all admit they will never be able to make them as well as she did. She showed them the value of hard work, and the value of having fun while seizing the day, speaking in riddles and rhymes around every corner. Priceless memories and the beautiful poems she left behind will live around us in everything beautifully forever.

Her Funeral Liturgy will be held on Wednesday June 7th at 10:30 a.m. at St. Mary of Czestochowa Church in Middletown, CT.  The Burial at St. Sebastian Cemetery, Rockfall will be private.