Frances Pyka

Frances Wandych Pyka, 100, of Manchester, CT died February 1, 2020 at Manchester Memorial Hospital. She was born in Manchester, April 4, 1919, and lived in Connecticut her entire life. Her parents (Stanley Wandych & Caroline Gemzik) were both born in Poland in the late 1800s and Caroline lived to be 93. Her husband, Victor Pyka (married for 52 years), was a bus operator for Connecticut Public Transit for 28 years and passed away July 7, 1993. Prior to retiring, she started work as a Stenographer for the U.S. Government Public Works Progress Administration. She later went on to work at Pratt & Whitney and finished her professional career in the Accounting Department of United Technologies commuting to their Corporate Headquarters in Hartford. While Frances lived alone in the same 3-level home for over 27 years, she kept active by gardening in the Spring/Summer, playing the Organ, walking dozens of laps per day in the basement and watching her beloved UCONN Girls Basketball Team on TV. Frances is survived by a daughter and son-in-law, Shirley and John Halon of Arizona; daughter-in-law, Madeleine Janke of Massachusetts; four grandchildren, Christopher Halon of California, Melanie Conley of Massachusetts, David Halon of Arizona, Jeffrey Pyka of Connecticut; six great grandchildren, Jordan Halon and Amy Nichols of Washington, Christopher Robin and Chase Halon of California, Benjamin and Megan Halon of Arizona; and one great-great grandchild, Jaxon Nichols of Washington. She will join her husband, her son Edward Pyka, her parents and her 3 sisters and 1 brother in Heaven where there is no doubt they will welcome the true Matriarch of the family. The family will receive friends on Friday, February 7, 2020 from 10:00-11:00am at Holmes-Watkins Funeral Home, 400 Main St., Manchester, CT, with a Funeral Service to follow at 11:00am. Burial will follow at St. Bridgets Cemetery in Manchester, and a Celebration of Frances at her home. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations can be made to benefit her adored UCONN Womens Basketball Team in memory of Frances Pyka (c/o Christopher Halon, chalopiano@aol.com ) The University of Connecticut Foundation Inc., 2390 Alumni Drive, Unit 3206, Storrs, CT 06269 or by visiting: https://uconn.givecorps.com/projects/5032-uconn-women-s-basketball .







Services

Visitation
Friday
February 7, 2020
10:00 AM to 11:00 AM
Holmes-Watkins Funeral Home
400 Main Street
Manchester, CT 06040


Funeral Service
Friday
February 7, 2020
11:00 AM to TBD
Holmes-Watkins Funeral Home
400 Main Street
Manchester, CT 06040


Burial following services

St. Bridget Cemetery
180 Oakland St
Manchester, CT 06040