Sophia K. (Gancarz) Ackerman

HOLDEN/LEICESTER – Sophia K. (Gancarz) Ackerman, 91, formerly of Leicester, died peacefully on Tuesday, March 4, 2014 under the loving care of her family and the staff at Holden Rehabilitation and Nursing Center in Holden after an illness. Born in Lowell, Sophia was the daughter of Adam and Louise (Burdzel) Gancarz and lived in Worcester before moving to Leicester in the mid 1970’s.

Sophia attended Worcester Public Schools and graduated from Worcester David Hale Fanning High School. She worked for the Worcester Public School Department as a cafeteria aide for more than 15 years. She was previously a member of Our Lady of Czestochowa Church in Worcester and St. Pius X in Leicester.

She enjoyed traveling, crafts, painting, playing cards and trips to the casinos and beaches. She was a past president of the Ladies Auxiliary of the Veterans of Foreign Wars Post # 479 in Worcester, and was an active participant at the Leicester Senior Center.

Sophia’s family is grateful for the excellent care and attention provided by the staff at Holden Rehabilitation and Skilled Nursing Center, Notre Dame Hospice, and Dr. Alison Hargreaves and her medical team.

Her husband of 20 years, Albert F. Ackerman died in 1985. She is survived by her daughter, Louise Meyer and her husband, Edwin of Holden; two sons, Lawrence Kulesza and his wife, Donna (Candela) and Martin Kulesza all of Franklin, TN; two brothers, William Gancarz and his wife, Lorraine of Worcester and Henry Gancarz of Auburn; two sisters, Mary Miodusewski of Auburn and Florance Dionne and her husband, Roland of Worcester; six grandchildren, Jamielyn Kulesza, Carly Lee, Stephanie Colon, Andrea Lewis, Katherine Rivera and Beth Kulesza; 16 great-grandchildren; nephews and nieces, cousins and friends. She is predeceased by her son, Walter Kulesza, a granddaughter, Briana Kulesza, a nephew, Brian Dionne, a niece, Christina Ott, a sister-in-law, Carol Gancarz, and a brother-in-law, Ted Miodusewski.

Relatives and friends are invited to visit with Sophia’s family from 10 to 11 a.m. on Tuesday, March 11, at the Miles Funeral Home, 1158 Main Street (Rte. 122A), Holden, followed by a procession to St. Mary’s Church, 114 Princeton Street, Jefferson where a Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at 11:30 a.m. Interment will follow at Worcester County Memorial Park, 217 Richards Avenue (Rte. 56), Paxton. In lieu of flowers, Sophia would want you to offer an act of kindness to family or friends, or to make a memorial donation to the Resident Activities Fund at the Holden Rehabilitation and Nursing Center, 32 Mayo Drive, Holden, MA 01520, or to Leicester Ambulance, 3 Washburn Square, Leicester, MA 01524. To share a memory or offer an online condolence, please visit sign the guest book on this page.