Helen G. Gnyla
1920-2015
West Springfield-Helen G. (Borowy) Gnyla, 95, died Wednesday August 12 in Mercy Medical Center. She was born in Bristol, CT to her immigrant parents, Damazy and Anna Borowy and moved back to Poland as a child. Helen and her twin brother Henry were out to sea one day heading for the USA to join brother Morris when Germany invaded Poland, all the ports were ordered closed and WWII was announced. She made her home in Bristol, CT for the next 45 years. There she met her husband and raised her family. She worked in the factory system until she retired and moved to West Springfield 25 years ago to be near her daughter and son-in-law Betty and Bob. Her love of outdoors, gardening and flowers never stopped and her table was always full for anyone who came to visit. Her husband Henry Gnyla died in 2009. She leaves her son James Gnyla and his partner Carol French of Hemet, CA, her daughter Elizabeth Briggs and her husband Robert of West Springfield, a brother Hilar of Poland, sisters Eva Czaplicka of Torrington, CT, Jadwiga and Kryska both of Poland, a granddaughter Leigh Ann Gnyla of Australia, a godchild Mary Borowy Cardillo, and her many friends at the cottage in Keystone Commons. The funeral Mass will be Saturday, August 29, 2015 at 11 am in St. Thomas Church. West Springfield Curran-Jones Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements. For more information please go to curranjones.com.