CHICOPEE – Anna M. (Damkauskas) Zinkievich, of Chicopee, entered eternal rest October 13, 2017 at Gardner Nursing and Rehab Center in Gardner, MA. Born in Westfield, MA, January 9, 1920. She was the daughter of the late Magdalene (Blakevich) and Cyprus Damkauskas. A past resident of Westfield, MA, she later moved to Chicopee. She was a 22-year employee of the U.S. Department of Labor. Her federal service included the former Springfield Armory, Official Security of Investigation, Westover AFB, and the U.S. Department of Agriculture. During her career of thirty years, she was the recipient of many Sustained Superior Performance awards and Notable Achievement and Monetary awards. She retired in 1993. Since 1964, she was a licensed Real Estate Broker, retiring her license also in 1993 to care for her ailing husband, who died five days after her retirement. She was a volunteer at the Shriners Hospital for Children, and the Chicopee Senior Center where she was a member of their writing group. Anna graduated from Westfield High School, Class of 1938 as a National Merit Scholar. She was a communicant of St. Rose DeLima Church, Chicopee, and the former St. Casimir’s Church, Westfield, MA, where she was a member of the Rosary Sodality. In her youth she was one of the first all-girl basketball team for the Westfield YMCA. She was a founding member of the first Parent Teachers Association at the former Fort Meadow School, Westfield, and was in the organization of its first cafeteria facility for students and faculty. The PTA was the first to implement a strict resolution prohibiting faculty members to inflict corporal punishment, (that was on-going) upon any student for disciplinary reasons. She was a member of the former Pioneer Valley Cub Scout Council, and den mother for many years. She enjoyed baking, writing, playing cards and the dogs in her life. Her loving husband, John of fifty-four years predeceased her in 1993. She was also predeceased by her sister Mary, 1982, brother Vyto, 2000, Louis, 2001, sister Nympha, 2005, and sister, Nellie, in 2006. Anna was the last surviving and the fifth of six children in the Damkauskas family. She leaves her loving sons, Paul L. Zinkievich and his precious wife, Catherine of Athol, MA, and John M. Zinkievich, (Lt. Col. Ret.) and his adoring wife, Marion, of Charlotte, NC. She also leaves her four cherished grandchildren that she was so proud of: John M. Jr. and wife, Erin of Syracuse, NY, Craig, and wife, Mary of Boulder Creek, CA, Adam and wife Shannah of West Suffield, CT. and Stephanie Thrower, and husband, Michael of Charlotte, NC. Anna was gifted with eleven great-grandchildren: Jacob, Winsome, Lola, Maxwell, Christopher, Meadow, Sophia and Evelyn Zinkievich, and Sienna, Wylie and Gavin Thrower and nephews and friends. Interment will be at the convenience of her family. Arrangements are under the direction of the Firtion-Adams Funeral Home, 76 Broad Street, Westfield, MA. It is requested that in lieu of flowers, contributions to her memory may be forwarded Dakin Pioneer Valley Humane Society, Union St., Springfield, MA.
