Jennie (Jean) Koziol Samsel, 90 of Suffield, beloved wife of the late John G. Samsel, Sr. died peacefully at the Suffield House on Saturday, August 31. She was surrounded by her loving family. Born September 20, 1922 in Westfield, Massachusetts, daughter of the late John and Mary Koziol. Jean graduated from Westfield High School in 1939. She met the love of her life, John, and they were married on June 20, 1942. After the war was over and her husband returned home from serving in the U.S. Navy, Jean and John co-owned and operated The JJ Market in Westfield for 3 years. After closing the market they moved to Hill Street in Suffield where they took up farming. For 20 years she was a farmers wife. She worked hard on the farm growing tobacco, vegetables and canning vegetables. She was a faithful communicant of Saint Joseph’s Church and an active member of the Women's Rosary Guild where she held the office of Treasurer for many years. She was very active in the functions of the Suffield Volunteer Fire Dept. as her husband was a volunteer firefighter for many years. Jean's life was devoted to raising her family. She was always sewing, knitting and crocheting for them, and always served homemade dinners, cakes, pies, jellies and jams. After she and her husband stopped raising tobacco, she worked at the A&P Market in Suffield as a cashier. After her husband passed away in 1978, she began working at the First National Bank of Suffield as a teller until her retirement. She was a big Red Sox Fan, UCONN Huskies Fan and most of all loved her polish music and polka dancing. She was a devoted mother, grandmother and great grandmother. Besides her husband she was predeceased by her son, John Jr. in 2011. She leaves behind her three children, James and his wife Melanie of Sutton Mass, Jeanne and her husband Gary LaBreck of Agawam, Mass and Jacquelyn and her husband Stephen Drziak of Suffield Ct and her daughter in law, Theresa Samsel of South Windsor, Ct. She also leaves 9 grandchildren and 13 great grandchildren. She leaves one brother, John (Doc) Koziol and his wife Phyllis of Westfield, Mass. In addition she leaves many nieces and nephews. She was predeceased by one sister Sophie Grimaldi and three brothers, Walter, Eddie, and Henry (Mike) Koziol all of Westfield, Massachusetts. The family wishes to extend their heartfelt appreciation to the staff at the Suffield House for their kindness and loving care.
The Funeral Services will be Wednesday, September 4, at 9AM from the Heritage Funeral Home 1240 Mountain Road, West Suffield; with a Mass of Christian Burial at St. Joseph Church at 10AM, 140 South Main Street, Suffield. Burial will follow in St. Joseph Cemetery, Suffield. Friends may call at the Heritage Funeral Home on Tuesday, September 3, from 4-7PM. In lieu of flowers memorial contributions may be made to The Suffield Fireman’s Association, 73 Mountain Road, Suffield Ct 06078

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