Stanley M. Morytko

Stanley M. Morytko, 97, of Windham, husband of Gertrude (Gaffney) Morytko, died Friday Feb. 6, 2009 at Windham Hospital. He was born Dec. 10, 1911 in Willimantic the son of Michael and Mary (Gula) Morytko. Stanley enlisted in the U.S. Army in Ansonia in 1942. He completed basic training and was assigned to Battery B 279th Coast Artillery Battalion in Massachusetts. He was reassigned to guard the Newport, R.I. beach with a searchlight unit. While there, he met his future wife Gertrude, a Registered Nurse at a summer camp for children with TB which was located across from the base. They became engaged and he was reassigned to guarding the Isthmus of Panama. They were married on April 2, 1945. After a short honeymoon in New York City, he was reassigned to guarding the island of Shima in the Aleutian Islands until the end of the war. Stanley worked locally at William Brand Co. / Brand Rex from 1949 to 1978. He was a communicant of St. Joseph Church. His hobby was raising homing pigeons and fancy pigeons since he was a young lad. He was recently featured in The Chronicle album section where a related story and photos ran on April 5, 2008. He was a lifetime listener to Polka music played by Virginia Seretny on WILI. He also enjoyed listening to Dick Pillar live at local fairs and also listened to Polka music on WHUS and John Jeski's program done live at the Hartford Polish Club. In addition to his wife, he is survived by his son Stanley Jr. of Windham, sisters Mildred Lucas of Durham and Victoria Postemski of N. Windham; and many nieces, nephews and grandnieces and grandnephews. He was predeceased by brothers Joseph, Emil and John and sisters Adele Breault and Sophie Breault. His family will receive friends on Tuesday from 10:30 to 11:30am at Potter Funeral Home 456 Jackson St. (Rte. 195) Willimantic. His Funeral Mass will then be celebrated at 12:00pm at St. Joseph Church, 99 Jackson St. Willimantic and interment with military honors will follow in St. Joseph Cemetery. Memorial donations may be made to St. Joseph Living Center, 14 Club Rd., Windham, CT. 06280. For online memorial guestbook, please visit www.potterfuneralhome.com .