Tuesday, December 15, 2009

NORTHAMPTON - Daniel and Cynthia Majewski's annual donation to the Sidney F. Smith Toy Fund is always in memory of a man they called "Jodgu."

The Polish word, usually spelled dziadzio, means grandfather. But the family's spelling of the word means more; it refers to Alexander Jablonski, an affectionate, generous man who always wore red plaid wool pants on Christmas Eve and was devoted to his granddaughters Abby, 21, and Amanda Majewski, 24 and Elizabeth Quinn, 27.

It is fitting that they donate in his memory to a fund that is made possible by the generosity of others, and whose very purpose is to make the holidays better for children. The Gazette-sponsored fund was started during the Great Depression to help families in need provide gifts for their children.

The fund distributes vouchers redeemable at area stores to eligible families at the holidays. For more details see the information box published with the continuation of this story.

Jablonski lived in South Deerfield before his death at age 81 in 2006. Cynthia Majewski said her family started spelling the Polish words dziadzio and babcia, which means grandmother, phonetically when her daughters were young, because that was how they would spell them in their thank you notes. And they wrote a lot of thank you notes, as Jablonski enjoyed doting on his granddaughters all year, and especially at Christmas.

Originally from Haydenville, he started Jablonski Lumber Co., where he worked for over 50 years to provide for his wife, Stacia, 82, of Easthampton, and his stepson Daniel's family.

"He would do anything for our family," Cynthia Majewski said of her late father-in-law. "He was very affectionate and a great grandfather to the girls."

The Majewskis' donation in memory of Jablonski said that Christmas was one of their favorite memories of their time with him. The family always spent Christmas Eve at Jablonski's old home on King Phillip Avenue in South Deerfield, where they celebrated their Jodgu's holiday customs and were stuffed with Polish food.

"Every year they would prepare a big traditional meal," Majewski said. "They were like a team in the kitchen, and they would start preparing and freezing food for it a month in advance." Majewski said the meal always included pierogis, golabkis, fish and lots of desserts.

Since the Jablonski's were Polish Catholics, the meal always began with a traditional communion wafer. "You started with a big piece and passed it around the table, with each person breaking off a piece and making a wish for the person next to them," Majewski remembered.

Majewski said that after the meal Jablonski and his wife would refuse any help with the dishes and cleanup, and then attend a midnight Mass. "We wouldn't see them again until the afternoon on Christmas Day, because they were exhausted from the night before and had to rest," Majewski said. "We don't know how they did it all."

For Jablonski's granddaughters, the most memorable part of Christmas Eve came after the meal. "My grandfather would have his neighbor come over dressed as Santa," Elizabeth Quinn said. "He would bring some gifts over, and of course when we were kids we thought it really was Santa."

Quinn's sister Amanda Majewski also remembers the visit from Santa Claus. "He would have a big red bag of presents, and he would come in, jingling bells and singing," she said. "We would all sit on his lap and get all our presents."

Quinn also remembered her grandfather's annual Christmas Eve garb. "He always used to wear red plaid wool pants with his slippers, every year," she said. Dressing for the occasion was important to Jablonski, who used to make sure all his granddaughters matched in their best for the holiday.

"He and my grandmother would buy all the granddaughters matching dresses that we would all wear on Christmas Eve, and we still have pictures of them today to cherish even though he is gone," Quinn said. "We all looked pretty cute."

Majewski said that Jablonski had to be a strong, self-reliant man to build the life he wanted out of nothing. "It made him kind of a tough guy," she said. "But he was a big softy by the time he came into our lives."

Jablonski was always generous with his time and affection for his granddaughters, and Christmas Eve was just an excuse to give even more than usual. "He had a heart of gold," Majewski said.

Today's donors

In honor of children and parents who struggle from Barbara Benda Jenkins   $50

In loving memory of Jack O'Dea, from his family   $50

Anonymous   $25

In honor of the Smith College controller's office Staff. Happy Holidays, Trish Rockett   $50

In appreciation of the joy Sienna, Maeli, Meika, and Noah give to my life   $50

Anonymous   $200

To Grandpa Britt who always made sure my Christmas was merry   $50

In loving memory of Michael Patrick Sullivan and to Sean, Laurie, Katie & Bridget Sullivan, you are in our thoughts this Christmas, from Mike & Janet Ahearn   $100

Anonymous   $100

In loving memory of Memere, Ben & Meghan F.   $50

In honor of our grandchildren Emma, Regan, Maggie, Hannah and Jacob from Sue and Al Rudnitsky   $125

In Memory of Patti Samolewicz, our Grammy Sammy. We love you and miss you. Lily, Samantha, Jack and Isabel   $25

In loving memory of Judy Tatro, Love Jeff, Amy and Ron   $25

Anonymous   $40

Jill Rohrberg   $50

Merry Christmas from Jerry & Carol Tierney   $25

In memory of Alice, Ziggy, Ginny & Hans   $50

In memory of Natalie Hurley who always had Christmas in her heart from John & Sharon Sargenski   $25

In memory of our loved ones from John & Sharon Sargenski   $25

In loving memory of Harold Vollinger love his family   $30

In loving memory of our dads, Edward Miller & Albert Omasta, Love Pam & Ray Miller   $25

Michael F. Curtin VFW Post 8006, the Ladies Auxiliary, the Men's Auxiliary and our Patrons   $200

In memory of Sandy Lamb and Sophia Benedisiek, Love Tyler and Aubree   $20

In thanks for the blessings in my life, God has enriched me in many ways. And also to thank the "Boys" for the tree on the river again, Sylvia Crafts   $100

In fond memories of my friend Shirley Sulzyski Sadowski, Jennie Rup   $20

Donated by Jim & Karen Kirkendall   $100

In honor of Noah, Caleb and Grace. Love Mimi & Papa Chickering   $100

With thanks for our Grandchildren - Avery, Zoe, Elias and Thea from Janet and Gaylord Saulsberry   $20

To honor the children & faculty at Center/Pepin schools, anonymous   $50

In memory of Grandpa John who loved Christmas and the kids from Jan Bauver   $25

In appreciation for my wonderful grandson Noah and the memory of Charles and Jennie Cichanowicz, Debbie Cichanowicz   $50

From Sophie & Mik   $50

Thankful for Kyle, Kirk, Elyse and Tarryn, also in loving memory of our daughter, Lynn and niece Beth Kozera, from June and Joe Baceski   $100

From Retail Management at FSB   $300

From John & Suzanne Meehan   $25

In memory of Jonathan Szych from Linda Cook   $25

Merry Christmas from Lindsay & Stephanie   $40

Previous Total   $1,9618

Today's Total   $2,345

Year-To-Date Total   $21,963