Blažena “Blanche” (Vodičkova) Krajewski, loving mother and grandmother, went home to be with the Lord on December 31, 2022, at the age of 96.  She was the widow of Leo J Krajewski, who predeceased her in 2002.
Daughter of Marie (Starkova) and Jan Vodička, Blažena was born on June 4, 1926, in Kostelec nad Černými Lesy, Czech Republic.  She met her husband, Leo, in 1945, while he was stationed overseas in the military.  In 1947, Blažena emigrated to the United States to marry Leo. They were married for 54 years and had three children.
Blažena was a resident of Naugatuck for 75 years.  She was a devoted parishioner of St Hedwig’s Church in Union City and, after its closing, she became a parishioner of St Francis of Assisi Church in Naugatuck.  Her past affiliations include the Ladies’ Guild and the Rosary Society at St Hedwig’s Church, the AARP, Chapter 495, and the Naugatuck Women’s Club.
Blažena was a hard worker throughout her entire life.  For 24 years, she was a stay-at-home wife and mom, and later retired from Peter Paul Cadbury after 20 years of service.  She will be remembered for her pleasant and caring disposition, her friendly ways, and for her willingness to always lend a helping hand.
Left to cherish her memory are her daughter Marie (Tom) Booker, her son John (Laura), and her daughter, Sophie Morton, with whom she resided prior to her residency at The Willows in Woodbridge.  She is also survived by her granddaughter, Lyra (Michael) Griffiths, and several nieces and nephews.  In addition to her husband, Leo, she was predeceased by five brothers and one sister, all from the Czech Republic.
Special recognition is given to caregiver Wanda Grandy for the extraordinary care she provided to Blažena while she was under her care at The Willows. The family would also like to express its gratitude to the remaining staff at The Willows, to VITAS Healthcare, and to the Naugatuck Valley Memorial-Fitzgerald Zembruski Funeral Home.
A Mass of Christian Burial will be held on Friday, January 6, 2023, at 11:00 AM, at St. Vincent Ferrer Church, 1006 New Haven Road, Naugatuck. Interment will follow at St. James Cemetery, Naugatuck. Visitation will be held Friday morning from 9:30 AM to 10:30 AM at Naugatuck Valley Memorial-Fitzgerald Zembruski Funeral Home, 240 North Main Street, Naugatuck.
In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to the Naugatuck Ecumenical Food Bank, 75 Spring Street, Naugatuck, CT 06770; or, to woundedwarriorproject.com.