WESTFIELD – Modwyn Evelyn Oleksak, 76, (1948-2025) passed peacefully at her home on January 22nd, 2025. She was born on August 25th, 1948, a daughter to the late Frank and Evelyn Scigulinsky.
She was predeceased in life by her sister Melissa Pendleton. She is survived by her brother Frank Scigulinsky of Westfield and her husband of 43 years, Andrew Oleksak. She also leaves behind her daughter Charlotte Oleksak and son-in-law Richard Barus as well as her three beloved grandchildren, Mary Evelyn Oleksak Barus, Sonny Oleksak Barus, and Dylan Oleksak Barus.
As a young woman Modwyn enjoyed spending holidays in England visiting her aunts, uncles, and cousins in Norfolk County. She also enjoyed traveling around eastern Europe in the summer months, witnessing many events such as Russian tanks marching to invade Czechoslovakia and military junta in Greece.
Modwyn graduated from Westfield High School in 1966 and attended Northampton Commercial College and King College in London England and passed the London Chamber of Commerce exams. During Vietnam she worked for the Armament Division of GE in Vermont with the M16 rifle among other military projects and had top security clearance from the US government. She was employed at Travelers Insurance Agency in the legal department for 28 years. Her interests included yoga, hiking with friends at Mt. Tom Reservation, gardening, and spending time with her grandchildren. She was a board member of the Westfield Woman’s Club where she met her dear friends Nancy and Joyce and was a clerk for local poll voting. Modwyn loved the Boston Celtics and knew all the stats on the Celtic players going back to the 60’s. Modwyn was a quiet, soft-spoken, compassionate woman and the closest thing to an angel her husband could find. She was instrumental in starting and keeping her husband’s business afloat all while working a full-time job as a legal secretary, bringing up her daughter, being a homemaker, and putting up with her husband.
A wake will be held at Firtion Adams Funeral Service, 76 Broad Street, Westfield, MA on Tuesday, January 28th, 2025 from 10 a.m.-12 p.m., followed by a Funeral Home Service at 12 p.m. Burial will follow at St. Mary’s Cemetery, Southampton Road, Westfield, MA. www.firtionadams.com
