Gertrude C. Markowski

Gertrude “Trudy” C. Markowski was reunited with her husband Frank on February 8, 2013 with her three children by her side. She was born on March 2, 1932 in Middletown, CT to George and Violet (Dzialo) Czaja. She was one of seven children.

Trudy grew up in Middletown, CT and attended schools there. She graduated from Middletown High School then attended Laurel Business School. After graduation, she worked at the The Silver Company as a bookkeeper for several years. Then, she met Frank.

Trudy married Francis J. Markowski, October 6, 1956, in Middletown, Ct. They enjoyed weekends away together and antiquing. They moved to New Britain where they started their family. Trudy stayed home to raise their three children. They were happily married for 19 years when her Frank passed away suddenly on June 20, 1975.

She found the strength and courage to do what was needed for her children by learning to drive and getting a job to support her children on her own. She taught her children that family is what matters most and “if you work hard enough for what you want, nothing is impossible”. She was truly a class act.

She worked several jobs before working at New Britain High School for a few years. It was during this time that she decided to attend school to become a Certified Nurses Assistant. Upon completion of her certification she began working at Andrew House Health Care in New Britain as a CNA, where she shared her compassion, love of people, dedication and sense of humor with all those around her until she retired.

The door to her home was always open and was the gathering place for all. She enjoyed her yard and had a love of flowers and bird watching, knick-knacks, spending time at the beach with her family, word search puzzles, teaching her family Holiday traditions and was always ready for a good time or an occasional practical joke. But above all, she loved spending time with all her grandchildren who she loved and adored. She spoke of them as if she was the only Grandmother in the world and was very proud of them and all their accomplishments.

She is survived by her children who will miss her dearly; Francis “Mark” Markowski and his wife Laura, Michael G. Markowski and his wife Sarina, Susan (Markowski) Babineau and her husband Stephen and her sisters Cecelia Malinowski and Frances Setko and kid brother Bernard Czaja.

She was the Beloved “Grammie” to Mark and Laura’s family, Dennis, Kim, Kristen and Great-Grandson Justin; Michael and Sarina’s daughters, Daniella and Angela; and Susan and Stephen’s children, Holly and Nicholas. She will forever be in the hearts of her grandchildren. She also has several nieces, nephews and other relatives and friends whose hearts she has touched over the years.

Trudy was preceded in death by her husband Francis J. Markowski, her parents George and Violet Czaja, and her brothers, Stanley and Jerome Czaja and sister Adeline (Czaja) Cliff.

During her stay at the hospital, she demonstrated strength with all that she endured. Her courageousness was impressed upon the staff and she had touched their hearts in a special way. Trudy’s family would like to thank the medical staff of HOCC and her ‘team’ in the Critical Care Unit West who comforted her in her final days.

Funeral services will begin Thursday, Feb. 14, 2013 at 8:45am from the New Britain Memorial Donald Sagarino Funeral Home, 444 Farmington Ave, New Britain, followed by the funeral liturgy at 10am in St. Joseph Church, So.Main St, New Britain. Burial will follow in Calvary Cemetery, Middletown. Visitation hours will be Wednesday, Feb. 13, 2013 from 5-8pm at the funeral home. For directions or messages, please visit www.newbritainsagarino.com.