Lena Kazak

Lena Kazak SPRINGFIELD, Vt. — Lena Kazak passed away quietly in the early morning hours of March 11, 2020. A lifelong resident of Springfield, Lena was born Feb. 19, 1919, on Mineral Street. Situated just below Comtu Falls, Slack Corp. was running strong and there were many residences on Mineral Street at that time. Lena’s parents both worked for Slack. Her father was Joseph Kazak and her mother was Antonina Rudkowska. As a young child, Lena experienced poor health and her mother feared she would die young. Little did she know that Lena would grow to become a petite but robust woman who was self-sufficient and lived to the age of 101. Lena was a member of the Holy Trinity Orthodox Church. Her father was one of the founding officers of the Holy Trinity Parish in Springfield. When Lena was 3 years old, her family moved to a farm on Will Dean Road in Springfield and lived there until 1946. Lena attended school in Springfield and graduated from Springfield High School in 1938. After graduating, she went to work at Springfield Lunch on Main Street. Her work experience there was written about in 2004 as part of a series of articles called “Mornings On Maple Street.” Lena waited and bussed tables, ran the cash register, washed dishes and performed short order cooking. After leaving Springfield Lunch, Lena went to work for Bryant Grinder Corp. on Clinton Street. At Bryant, she was employed as a machinist and operated an internal grinding machine for three years. It was during World War II and Lena was a true “Rosie the Riveter.” She worked the 3 to 11 p.m. shift and then walked home, home being a mile-and-a-half out of town from the plant. After leaving Bryant in 1945, Lena worked for Springfield Photo Finishing, Dartmouth Woolen Mills in Claremont, New Hampshire, and Springfield Telephone Co. She eventually returned to Bryant and worked as personnel secretary, retiring in 1983 with over 30 years of service. While retired, Lena traveled extensively, visiting Hawaii, Alaska, points in the U.S. and the British Isles. She also enjoyed tending her small perennial garden at her residence at 1 Stanley Road, Springfield, where she lived for 70 years. Lena leaves one surviving sister, Nellie Millay, of Springfield. She was predeceased by four brothers, Anany, Joe, Mitrofan and Mike. Lena had nine nieces and nephews. Never having married or raised children of her own, Lena dedicated her love and attention to her nieces and nephews. She will be fondly remembered and missed. There were no calling hours and burial will be in the family plot in Oakland Cemetery at a later date. Final arrangements were handled by Davis Memorial Chapel.