Krystyna Florczyk-Godwin

Krystyna was born on February 28, 1931 in Poland to Julia and Wojciech Ryncarz as their sixth daughter. She was eight years old when the Second World War broke out. She witnessed on a daily basis the atrocities committed by the Nazis. After the war Krystyna studied at a medical school and then worked as a PA in ER alongside an emergency doctor, who later became her future husband.

After marrying, she put her career on pause to raise her two daughters. Thereafter, she changed her profession and opened a beauty salon.

When her granddaughter was born, she devoted her time to caring for her.

Her daughters Elizabeth and Grace, after graduating from university, fled the country because of the risk of the Russian invasion to quell the Solidarity movement.

After 2 years Krystyna was able to leave the country with her granddaughter to join Elizabeth in Schenectady and Grace in Toronto, Canada.

In 1986 her husband passed away in Poland, and she remained in the United States.

In her new life she reinvented herself with a new career in the office of the Ministry of Transportation of New York State, where she worked until retirement.

Krystyna married Stan Godwin in 1993 and lived in Schenectady until her last days.

She was a social person, with a good sense of humor and has made many dear friends in the Polish community.

Krystyna enjoyed traveling with her husband and she liked to keep herself informed about the latest developments related to health, beauty and medicine, and never missed an opportunity to discuss politics, local and foreign.

But the most pleasure brought her the time spent with her family. She was an elegant lady with a strong personality.

Krystyna passed away on Jan 23, at the Hospice care in St Peters Hospital after a short illness, surrounded by her loving family.

She was the last of 6 sisters to pass away. She is survived by her daughters, Elizabeth and Grace along with 2 grandchildren: Kasia and Albert and 2 great granddaughters: Madison and Emma and sons-in-law: Mariusz and Marcin.

A mass of Christian burial will be celebrated for Krystyna in St. Thomas the Apostle Roman Catholic Church in Delmar on Thursday January 29th at 1 pm. Interment will immediately follow the mass in Bethlehem Cemetery, Delmar. Family and friends are invited to visit with Krystyna's family on Wednesday January 28th from 5-7pm in the Konicek & Collett Funeral Home Llc., 1855 12th Avenue, Watervliet.

In lieu of flowers, kindly consider a contribution in Krystyna's memory to St. Peter's Hospice or St Jude Children's Research Hospital to which she contributed throughout her life