Obituary

WATERBURY - It is with sorrowful hearts that the family of Virginia Marie (Rogers) Szantyr, age 70, of Waterbury, announce her peaceful passing on Mother’s Day - Sunday, May 12, 2024 at Waterbury Hospital after an extended illness. She was the widow of her beloved Paul T. Szantyr, Sr. who passed away in 2011. Mr. Szantyr was Ginny’s teacher, mentor, and best friend, who later made her dreams come true by becoming her husband in 1982.

Ginny was born on February 23, 1954 in Waterbury, the daughter of the late William and Raphalena (Santoro) Rogers. She graduated from SS Peter and Paul Grammar School (1968), Sacred Heart High School (1972), and Western CT State University Culinary Arts Program. During her career, she was always around food and children, whether working as a Secretary at Sacred Heart or with the City of Waterbury, or later in her career as a school cafeteria manager for the City. She was well known for her cooking and baking skills and her many trips to the casino. Ginny was exceptional in almost every way, but she excelled the most at being a devoted wife, mother, and grandmother. She was fierce in loyalty to her family, and her capacity to love was unending. She was a devout Catholic who grew up at SS Peter and Paul Church, while she gave a great deal of time and talent to both St. Stanislaus Kostka Church and the Immaculate Conception, where she ran their Bingo programs for many years in the 90’s and 00’s. She had a special devotion to Our Blessed Mother. Our family thanks you, Mom, for every prayer you uttered for us, for the many sacrifices you made for us, for the thousands of hugs you shared with us, and the unending love you instilled in all of us.

Left to cherish her memory and honor her legacy are her children: Christa Chodkowski and her husband, Matthew of East Haddam, Paul T. Szantyr Jr. and his wife, Jasmine of Meriden, and Maryssa Liptak and her husband Geoffrey of Thomaston. She leaves her one and only grandchild and light of her life, Zion Paul, whose FaceTime messages brought her abundant joy when she could not hold him in person. She also leaves her siblings: William Rogers and Alice Rogers, both of FL, Loretta DeRosa and Diane Northrop, both of Waterbury, and several nieces, nephews and extended family members. Her beloved brother-in-law, Marty Northrop, was more like a brother to her, and she loved playing cards and Scrabble with him and Diane whenever she could. She was predeceased by her sister, Ann Marie Rogers.

The family wishes to thank in a special way, Fr. Jim Sullivan, who spent many days offering Mass at home for Ginny, visiting her at several hospital stays, and anointing her when she was especially ill.

Funeral services for Mrs. Szantyr will be held on Thursday, May 16, 2024 at 10:00 a.m., when a Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at the Basilica of the Immaculate Conception, 74 West Main St Waterbury. Those planning to attend are kindly asked to meet directly at the church. Burial will follow in Calvary Cemetery, Waterbury. Relatives and friends are invited to pay their respects to the family on Wednesday evening (May 15) from 4:00 until 7:00 p.m. at Casey’s Eastside Memorial Funeral Home and Cremation Care, 1987 East Main St Waterbury, CT 06705. Loving kindness is always welcome, and it only takes a moment to offer a message of condolence or words of comfort or share a memory of someone important to you with their family and friends. To send flowers or a memorial gift to the Szantyr family, please visit our website at www.caseyfunerals.com.

To order memorial trees or send flowers to the family in memory of Mrs. Virginia R. Szantyr, please visit our flower store.