Geneva Sozanski

Born in Salem, Geneva was the daughter of Anthony and Apolonia “Polly” Furtak, Polish immigrants. Geneva met her late beloved husband, Dr. Julius C. Sozanski, in 1939, starting a partnership that would last for over 70 years. The pair married in 1947, and had two sons, Stanley and Stephen. In 1953 they settled into their multi-family home on Eastern Avenue, which came to house five generations of family and was the center of extended family life for nearly 60 years. Geneva served in her husband’s ophthalmology practice in Lynn for 57 years at his office next door to the family’s home.

Mrs. Sozanski was a lifelong Roman Catholic and longtime member of St. Michael’s and Holy Family churches in Lynn. Geneva exemplified what it meant to live a life in service to others, as shown by her dedication to her family, community and her husband’s patients. She was a member of the St. Hedwig Society at St. Michael’s Church and a longtime member of the Shoe City Lions Club. Geneva was a past recipient of their Woman of the Year Award in 2011. She also received recognition that year from the City of Lynn for her tenacious and gracious spirit in the face of adversity.

Mrs. Sozanski is survived by her two sons, Dr. Stanley Sozanski and his wife Kathleen of Byfield and Dr. Stephen Sozanski and his wife Alice of Lynn; her sister, Helen McSweeney of Lynn; her four grandchildren, Amy (Sozanski) Pironti and her husband John of Rowley, David Sozanski and his wife Lindsay of Lynn, Rebecca (Sozanski) Fuentes and her husband Nyal of Melrose and Robert Sozanski and his wife Julee of Lowell, her seven great-grandchildren, John and Grace Pironti of Rowley, Hayden and Ashton Sozanski of Lynn, Elena and Marisol Fuentes of Melrose and Zara Geneva Sozanski of Lowell, her nephew, Daniel McSweeney Jr. and his wife Janelle and their children, Daniel Patrick and Lilli McSweeney of Lynnfield, and her nephew, David McSweeney of South Boston. She was pre-deceased by her brother-in-law Atty. Daniel McSweeney Sr.

Service information: A funeral Mass will be held on Wednesday, March 30 at 10 a.m. in Holy Family Church, 26 Bessom St., Lynn. Burial will follow in St. Joseph Cemetery, Lynn. Visiting hours will be held in Holy Family Church on Tuesday, March 29 from 4-7 p.m. Memorial donations may be made in Geneva’s memory to advance her and Dr. Sozanski’s legacy of commitment to sight programs and services to the Shoe City Lions Club, P. O. Box 8173, Lynn, MA 01904.