Felix Joseph Szymcik

Felix Joseph Szymcik, 92, a resident of Rindge, NH, died peacefully on Monday, June 19, 2017 at the Applewood Center in Winchester after a period of declining health.

Felix was born on June 2, 1925 in Templeton, MA. Joe, who preferred to be called Felix for his name’s uniqueness, had a wonderful appetite for family, food, friends and fun. An avid and voracious reader, Joe was extremely well read and did crossword puzzles every day. He was a lover of nature and geography, and loved to travel to see the great outdoors, piling the kids with wife Gertrude in the car and driving all over New England and the northeast to see unique and often obscure natural wonders. He spoke fondly of growing up on a farm and of his years spent hunting and fishing. In 2010, Joe went to Colorado with his family to see the Rocky Mountains, a lifelong wish fulfilled.

He had a great love of food and was very proud of his Polish heritage, yearning for Polish dishes and delicacies throughout his long life. Joe loved football and passed his love of the game onto his children. He and Gertrude also loved baseball, particularly the Atlanta Braves, who were once the Boston Braves and Joe and Gertrude went to the games together in Boston until the team moved in 1953. Joe’s love for life could be found in everything he did. He loved to play cards with Gertrude and their friends, often traveling for weekend getaways that included great food, noncompetitive fun card games and lots of laughter.

Most of all, in addition to unconditional love he had for his children, grandchildren and great grandchildren, he was married for 69 ½ years to Gertrude, the center of his world and the absolute love of his life.

In addition to his wife Gertrude, Joe is survived by his 4 daughters, Barbra Benedict of Lansing, IL, Sharon Whitaker of Sunapee, NH, Becky Szymcik of Grafton, MA and Lisa Bredberg of Rindge, NH; his 2 sons, Scott Szymcik of Swanzey, NH and Mark Szymcik of Worcester, MA, as well as by his grandchildren and great grandchildren.

Mr. Szymcik is predeceased by 2 of his sons; Michael and Neil.

Calling hours will be held on Friday, June 23, 2017 from 5:00 PM – 7:00 PM in the Cournoyer Funeral Home & Cremation Center, 33 River Street, Jaffrey, NH.

A funeral service will be held the following morning, Saturday, June 24, 2017 at 10:30 AM in the Cournoyer Funeral Home Chapel.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations be made to Applewood Rehabilitation Center, 8 Snow Road, Winchester, NH 03470, where Joe resided and was well cared for the last six months of his long and loving life.