Sophie Angela (Augustyn) Kurzweil, 98, wife of the late Casimer "Charlie" J. Kurzweil, passed away peacefully in her sleep on November 17, 2018.

She was born on January 30, 1920, in Middletown, daughter of the late Anthony and Angela (Gawlak) Augustyn. Sophie graduated from Middletown High School and lived her adult life in Meriden; worked briefly at International Silver Company where she met her beloved, Charlie. Sophie was a longtime parishioner and dedicated volunteer at Saint Stanislaus Church. She was past president and treasurer of the Holy Rosary Society, active in St. Stanislaus home and school association and a faithful Eucharistic Minister. For many decades, St. Stanislaus was an integral part of her life: Sophie attended daily mass, all special church services and regularly visited the homebound and sick offering prayers and friendship for those who were in need. Sophie was an avid gardener; she tended her backyard garden and trees where she grew flowers, vegetables and fruit (she was well known for her applesauce cake!). Sophie loved to travel and reminisce of her visits to Germany, Poland, Rome and the Holy Land.  She loved her family and took special care of all of her grandchildren. Sophie lovingly cared for her sister Mary Ryzoc as well as her mother-in-law Catherine Kurzweil in their final years. In recent years, her eldest children, Ronald and Betty, along with their spouses, took turns providing live-in care for Sophie.

Sophie is survived by three children and their spouses: Ronald and Kay Kurzweil of East Haddam; Betty and Hal Holcomb of Venice, Florida; Maryann and John Larese of Knoxville, Tennessee; five grandchildren: Candice Kurzweil of East Haddam, Mark Tencza of Orlando FL, Scott Larese and wife Sarah of Ventura CA, Sandra Nixon and husband Wayne of Glen Allen VA, Stacey Larese and wife Shannon of Charlottesville VA; six great-grandchildren: Tyler and Kirra Larese of Ventura CA, Jacob and Samuel Nixon of Glen Allen VA, Sydney Larese of Charlotte NC and Summer Larese of Charlottesville VA; as well as her brother Walter Augustyn of Middletown and many nieces and nephews. Sophie was predeceased by six brothers, Frank, Stanley, Edward, Theodore, John and Joseph Augustyn and four sisters, Helen Mroczka, Wanda Kusek, Mary Ryzoc, and Veronica Urban.

Quoting Sophie's favorite Polish farewell phrase " do widzenia" (until we meet again).

Her funeral will be held Tuesday November 27th at 9:30 a.m. from the Stempien Funeral Home, 450 Broad St., Meriden when the funeral cortege will proceed to St. Stanislaus Church for a Mass of Christian burial at 10:00 a.m. Burial will follow in St. Stanislaus Cemetery. Family and friends are invited to pay their respects on Tuesday morning November 27th from 8:30 a.m.  until 9:30 a.m. at the Stempien Funeral Home. To send an online expression of sympathy please visit www.stempienfuneralhome.com .

In lieu of flowers, donations in memory of Sophie Kurzweil may be made to St. Faustina Parish, 82 Akron St., Meriden, CT 06450.