Emily Mary Kurpiel

Emily Mary Kurpiel also known as “Babci” gained her angel wings on February 17, 2025. She was an amazing 101 years old. Emily was born on September 21, 1923 in Portchester, NY to John Zajac and Mary Poltrack Zajac. She grew up in the Pemberwick area of Greenwich, CT. When she was a teen, her father passed away. Years later, Emily, along with her mother and sister, moved to Stamford, CT where her mother was remarried to Joseph Bankowski. Emily went on to graduate from Stamford High School in the Class of 1942. During the war efforts, Emily worked at Yale & Towne Manufacturing which was the leading lock manufacturer in the world. Then on her birthday in 1946, Emily married Chester “Chet” Kurpiel. She began working at Pitney Bowes in Stamford but took some years off to start a family. Sadly, Chester passed away in 1973, so Emily returned to work as a Quality Assurance Inspector in the Electronic Department of Pitney Bowes until her retirement. Emily lived a long and eventful life. She was known for her love of family but also her Polish culture, traditional Polish food and Holy Name of Jesus Church where, for many years, she sang in the church choir and volunteered to prepare the altar for daily Masses. Emily had interests and talents in many fun things such as sketching art, her daily horoscope, tabloid magazines, Colony pizza and the makeup counter at Lord & Taylor. There wouldn’t be a day that would go by without good stories to tell and singing or humming her favorite Polish Christmas songs, church hymns and patriotic songs. For years to come, the family will share memories of Emily’s humorous interactions and storytelling. Emily was known for telling her family to get some food together and have a “gathering”. She loved her family and being around people. In her final weeks, she was still dancing around in her wheelchair and singing or humming songs. Always interested in driving around the sites of her childhood in Portchester and her life in downtown Stamford, Emily wanted to go “cruising” and now she can enjoy the best journey of her life in eternal peace. Besides her parents, Emily was also predeceased by her husband (Chester Kurpiel), her step-brother (Edward F. Bankowski, Sr.), her nephew (Edward F. Bankowski, Jr.), her sister (Frances Ostrosky), her niece (Patricia Cavanaugh) and her eldest daughter (Linda Zajkowski). She is survived by two daughters, Kathy Adams (Elmer Adams) of Trumbull and Teresa Sokolowski (Michael Hepp) of Naugatuck, nine grandchildren and thirteen great-grandchildren. Our thanks go out to the staff at Maefair Center for Health and Rehabilitation for all the love and care they gave to Emily over the last six years. Family and friends may call at Bosak Funeral Home, 453 Shippan Avenue, Stamford, CT on Friday, February 28th from 4pm -7pm. A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated on Saturday, March 1st at 10am at Holy Name of Jesus Church, 325 Washington Boulevard, Stamford, CT. Interment will follow at St. John Cemetery, 25 Camp Avenue, Darien, CT. In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made in Emily’s memory to the Holy Name of Jesus Church Restoration Fund (mailed to: Holy Name of Jesus Church, 325 Washington Boulevard, Stamford, CT 06902). If you wish to make an online remembrance for the family, you may sign the family guestbook at www.bosakfuneralhome.com or www.facebook.com/bosakfuneralhome.

Emily Mary Kurpiel

September 21, 1923 - February 17, 2025