Mrs. Laura Chrostowski

Laura Annie (Allen) Chrostowski (76) peacefully entered into Eternal Rest during the early morning hours of July 14, 2023. Laura was blessed to be surrounded by her loving family, including Stanley, her devoted husband and best friend of 57 years. Stan lovingly cared for her through her difficult journey with Frontal-Temporal Dementia. Laura was one of eight children born to the late Jack and Eleanor (Smith) Allen, in Rapid City, SD. Life was not always easy growing up in a large family, but that is where her loving and nurturing nature began to take root. Laura frequently said that she always dreamed of being a wife and mother. As luck...or fate would have it a handsome young Airman spotted her walking down the street and it was love at first sight. Stan stopped his car, asked her on a date and they were married a few months later. Her inner and outer beauty, kind nature, slightly twisted sense of humor and quick witt surely sealed the deal. The young couple eventually headed to his hometown of Pittsfield where they would settle in to raise their growing family including daughter Stephanie, son Lester and daughter Lori. Laura was immensely proud of her children but her greatest joy was undoubtedly being a Nannie to her grandsons; Bryan, Alex (Erica) and Jacob D'Avella, Geoffery (Shay) and Matthew (Marcie) Chrostowski, Christopher, Dylan, Joshua and Jack Chaffee and great grandchildren Landon and Layne. Laura was a hardworking woman in and out of the home. She was well known to those who frequented the former Nichols Pharmacy. She could be found at the front counter bagging up penny candy, in the aisles straightening greeting cards, in the back selling postage stamps or at the pharmacy counter ensuring that you got the prescriptions that you needed. One of her proudest accomplishments during that time was becoming a certified prosthetic fitter, taking great pride in helping women to feel whole again after mastectomy. The value of Laura's commitment to those she served during the more than 20 years she spent at Nichols was evident when she was asked to stay on and follow the pharmacy customers to Brooks/Maxi Drug. She obtained her state pharmacy technician certification and eventually found herself at Rite Aid until her retirement in 2009. Laura was drawn to the comfort of religion from an early age, converting to Catholicism as an adult. This led to the couple reaffirming their love and commitment to each other with a second wedding ceremony in the Catholic church in 2005, with only their best friends Peter and Georgianna Morrissey by their sides. She was a communicant of Holy Family and Saint Joseph's parishes. She belonged to the Lady's Guild where she helped with preparing food for the Annual Polish Picnic. She enjoyed crocheting and spent many hours making prayer shawls for the elderly and those in need. In addition to the church, Laura was involved in many groups and activities over the years including The Polish Falcons and The American Legion Post 155. As a proud member of the Ladies Legion Auxiliary she enjoyed the monthly visits to Soldier On where she baked for and assisted with bingo games. During the holidays she volunteered to assist the residents at the VA Medical Center in Leeds with their holiday gifting. She was an avid bowler for many years and enjoyed keeping physically active. She loved music and never passed up an opportunity to dance, often being the first to hit the dance floor. You could find her tending to her flower gardens, enjoying her deck with Stan or alone with a book or teaching a grandson how to cast a fishing line or handle a BB gun. Laura will be missed by those she leaves behind, including her beloved husband Stanley, their children Stephanie and David Viens, Lester and Pamela (Morrissey) Chrostowski and Lori Chaffee, nine grandsons and two great-grandchildren. She also leaves siblings; Janet Wilson, Ralph (Debbie) Allen, Dianna (Robert) Meeker and Norma Roth, as well as many nieces and nephews. Those who have departed before her include her granddaughters Sarah and Mary Chrostowski, her parents, Jack and Eleanor (Smith) Allen, in-laws Stanley and Julia (Wrona) Chrostowski, siblings Jack 'Leroy' and Lester Allen and Charlene McDugle. Funeral Notice: Funeral services for Mrs. Laura Annie (Allen) Chrostowski will be Wednesday, July 19, 2023, with a Liturgy of Christian Burial at 1pm at St. Joseph Church, celebrated by the Msgr. Michael A. Shershanovich, Pastor. Burial will be at a later date. Calling hours for Laura will be Tuesday, July 18, 2023, from 4pm to 6pm at the Dwyer Funeral Home, 776 North Street, Pittsfield, MA, 01201. In lieu of flowers, donations in her memory can be made to HospiceCare in the Berkshires, 877 South Street, Pittsfield, MA 01201.

Mrs. Laura Chrostowski

July 27, 1946 - July 14, 2023