Raymond Walter Szulik, 98, passed away peacefully on January 15th, 2013, in Raleigh, North Carolina, at the home of his son, Matthew, with whom he lived for the past ten years. He was surrounded by his family. Raymond was predeceased by his wife of 49 years, Eileen Leary Szulik, and his four beloved brothers.
Born in New Bedford, Massachusetts, on February 17th, 1914, to parents Joseph and Mary, Raymond was the youngest of five brothers: Walter, Stanley, John, and Mathiew. In 1938, he became the first member of his family to graduate from college, earning a degree in textile engineering from North Carolina State. He eventually took a job as a chemical engineer in the Rubber Division of the Acushnet Company, where he met the love of his life, Eileen Leary. They married in their hometown of New Bedford, MA, and had three children: Annie, Peter, and Matthew. Day or night, Raymond remained devoted to his family and his ailing wife, who passed away in 1994. He would lovingly repeat the same phrase every morning he awoke: “I was dreaming of the family.” After his last brother, Matt, passed 10 years ago, Raymond moved to Raleigh to live with his son in the town of his alma mater. He celebrated his 90th birthday with his entire family by watching the NC State Wolfpack basketball team beat Duke in-person at the PNC Arena.
A devout Catholic, Raymond always said his morning and evening prayers in his first language, Polish. He loved traveling internationally with his brother, Matt; losing new Titleist balls at his yearly golf outings with his sons; and devouring the many pouches of Swedish Fish from his grandchildren. Up until his dying day, he enjoyed delivering Meals on Wheels every Wednesday with his caregiver and friend, Ms. Emelda Lewis. Ray was kind and gentle. He inspired others to live humbly and peacefully, and to enjoy every day of their lives to the fullest.
Raymond is survived by daughter, Anne Colleary, and her husband, Michael, of Naples, Florida; son, Peter Szulik, of Raleigh; and son, Matthew Szulik, and his wife, Kyle, of Raleigh. Raymond is also survived by granddaughter, Erin Mauceri, and her husband, Joe, of Terryville, Connecticut; grandson, Ryan Colleary, of Boston; granddaughter, Kaitlin Szulik, of Raleigh; and grandsons, Brendan and Keenan Szulik, of Raleigh. He is also survived by his two great-grandsons, Dane and Charlie Mauceri. He will be sorely missed by the two family dogs, Yaz and Pesky, and by his best friend, Winky the one-eyed cat.
The family wishes to extend their deepest thanks and appreciation to Ms. Emelda Lewis for the love and care she has not only shown to Raymond, but to the entire family throughout the past 5 years. She is truly their saint and guardian angel.
His funeral Mass will be held at St. Mary’s Church in South Dartmouth, MA on Friday, January 18th, at 10 a.m., and the burial will follow at St. Mary’s Cemetery.
In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the The Kosciuszko Foundation, which is dedicated to promoting cultural ties and exchanges between the United States and Poland, at 15 East 65th Street, New York, NY, 10065. More information can be found at their website, http://www.thekf.org/.
Arrangements are with Machnowski Funeral Home, 472 Ashley, Blvd., New Bedford. For condolences, please visit www.machnowskifuneral.com
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