Maria Eva (Hryniszyn) Leja, 84, beloved wife of the late, Edward Jan Leja, of New Britain passed away unexpectedly on Sunday, March 10, 2013 with family by her side. Maria was born November 12, 1928 in Mlodowice, Poland and resided in Przemysl, Poland until immigrating to the United States in 1966. She was a parishioner at the Przemysl Cathedral and Sacred Heart Church in New Britain where she attended Polish language services. Mrs. Leja was employed at Fafnir Bearing prior to working at New Britain Public Schools from 1986 till her retirement in 2003. She enjoyed spending quality time with family and friends and will be mostly remembered for her generosity and providing a helping hand to many immigrant family members. She enjoyed helping her late husband tend their garden and will be remembered for preparing Polish and Ukraine delicacies for her family and friends. Maria was overjoyed on her 84th birthday to find out that that her daughter would be giving birth to a boy in May. She gave daily motherly advice and was looking forward to holding another grandson. Maria is survived and will be dearly missed by her children; Bogdan T. Leja and his wife Marylin A. Keating of Raleigh, NC and Santiago, Chile and their children Ivy Alphonse-Leja and Quinn Edward Leja; John M. Leja and his son Mark Jan Leja of New Britain; Diane Maria Leja, and partner Terell L. Ricks of New Britain. Maria is also survived by her sisters and brother; Katazyna Zakaluzna, Halina Fedoryczak, and Jaroslaw Hryniszyn. Maria is remembered dearly by her nephew Piotr Hryniszyn and his wife Adela, her sister-in-law, Maria Klym, many nieces and nephews residing in the United States, Canada, and Poland; and many close friends who immigrated together around the same time to New Britain. Maria's family would like to thank her long time doctors; Jan Paris, Gregory Bombassei and Marcie Migliorato for their wonderful care. Funeral services will begin Saturday, March 16 at 8:30am from the New Britain Memorial Donald D. Sagarino Funeral Home, 444 Farmington Ave, New Britain, followed by the Funeral Liturgy at 9:30am in Sacred Heart church. Burial will follow at Sacred Heart Cemetery.
Visitation hours will be Friday, March 15 from 4-7 p.m. at the funeral home. For directions or online tributes, please visit www.newbritainsagarino.com
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