Online Obituaries

Erwin J. “Eddie” Brzezowski of Chicopee, MA died of natural causes at Herrick House assisted living community, Beverly, MA, on May 26, 2024. He was 93 years old. Born September 14, 1930 in his family home, Eddie was a lifelong resident of Chicopee, MA until the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, when he relocated to Beverly, MA to live with his daughter, Laurie (David). Eddie was the eighth of nine children born to Stanislaw and Katarzyna (Wisniowska) Brzezowski. His parents were both immigrants from Poland.

Erwin was a graduate of the Class of 1948 of Chicopee High School. During high school and after graduation, Eddie fell in love with Emily Furtek. They were soon separated for a time when the Korean War began and Eddie was drafted into the U.S. Army. He served our country from 1952-1954 at military bases in Europe, and was honorably discharged with the rank of Corporal. Upon his return home from military service, Erwin began his lifelong career in the construction trades as an asbestos worker (industrial insulator). He plied his tradecraft at numerous gas, coal, and nuclear power plants both locally and as far as upstate New York and Delaware. When the health risks related to asbestos fibers became known, Eddie’s work focused on asbestos abatement and insulation with other materials.

Erwin and Emily married in October, 1954, enjoying 58 years of marriage together until Emily died in July, 2012. Eddie continued to wear his wedding ring up to the day he died. Eddie and Emily were the proud parents of daughter Laurie Brzezowski-Greenberg (David) and son Fr. Michael Brzezowski. As parents, they saw their hopes and dreams fulfilled in their children as they graduated from college, began their respective careers, and—in the case of Laurie and David—blessed them with two granddaughters.

In their retirement years, Erwin and Emily enjoyed traveling in the U.S., Canada, the Caribbean, and Europe. Eddie was a dog lover and was a big fan of all the Boston sports teams, especially the Red Sox. He was a parishioner of St. Stanislaus Basilica, receiving all of his Catholic sacraments there throughout his life. He also enjoyed reading, swimming for exercise at Elms College, concerts at Tanglewood, and good food. Ice cream was Eddie’s absolute favorite snack. It was fitting, therefore, that Eddie’s last “dinner” consisted of ice cream fed to him by his hospice care team just an hour or so before he died.

Erwin is survived by his daughter Laurie (David) Brzezowski-Greenberg, his son Fr. Michael Brzezowski, his granddaughters Mia (Spenser) Greenberg-Heaton and Tess (Jeffrey) Greenberg-Price, great grandson, Desmond Heaton and his sister, Bertha Bishop.

Visitation will be held at Cierpial Memorial Funeral Home, 61 Grape St. in Chicopee on Monday, June 17 from 5 to 7 PM. Erwin’s Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at 10 AM on Tuesday, June 18 at the Basilica of St. Stanislaus in Chicopee. Burial will follow at St. Stanislaus Cemetery, Chicopee.