Lucy Topczewski

Lucya Therese Kalinowski Topczewski (9/20/1923 - 4/6/2016) was loved by all who knew her for her warm heart and her sincere and helpful interest in the lives and hearts of everyone she encountered.

Born in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, she was the last surviving member of her family of origin. She met Donald Topczewski at a friend’s wedding shortly before WW II, and married him in September, 1946. In 1961, she moved with her husband and six children to Boulder, Colorado and lived there until 1978, when she and Don moved to Longmont.

She was active for many years in her church, participating in RCIA and Altar & Rosary Society, and serving as both Eucharistic Minister and Stevens Minister at St. John the Baptist Catholic Church in Longmont. She also volunteered at the O.U.R. Center of Longmont. After her children had all started school, she returned to her pre-marriage career as a legal secretary, and in time became Clerk to Judge Torke at the Boulder County Court. When the Boulder County Court opened a branch in Longmont, Lucy served as its first Clerk. After her retirement, she enjoyed her many grandchildren, and also devoted many hours to church activities, knitting, and extensive travel in the Western United States with her husband, Don, who preceded her in death in April of 2010.

She is survived by four of her six children: Mary Sarah Burrowes, Andrew Topczewski, Theresa Bradshaw (John) and Rita Rusnock (Kevin), and by her daughter-in-law Mary Topczewski, wife of Timothy, who participated extensively in Lucy’s care and took her to Church every Sunday through all the last years of her life. Her twin sons, Thomas and Timothy Topczewski preceded her in death in 2005 and 2009 respectively.

She is also survived by 9 grandchildren, 21 great-grandchildren, and 3 great-great grandchildren.

Prominent among the many memories of our mother, what her children remember with joy and affection is her singing. She had a lovely singing voice right to the end of her life, and knew the words to literally thousands of songs. In joy and sorrow, in fun and in reverence, her voice was constantly raised in song.

What her grandchildren remember most about ""The Busha"" is love, acceptance, kindness, compassion, and always looking for the best in others and in life. And of course, multi-course meals and family get-togethers served with love, laughter, and joy where we learned what was truly important in life by living in it. We learned through her beautiful example to accept life and when we were blessed, to ""Just pass it on"" to others with grace and love.

Visitation will be held from 5:00 to 7:00 pm on Thursday, April 14, at the Howe Mortuary Chapel. Rosary prayers will follow at 7:00 p.m. Mass of Christian Burial will be at 11:30 am on Friday, April 15, 2016 at St. John the Baptist Catholic Church, Longmont. Burial will follow at 2:30 pm at Foothills Gardens of Memory.