Shrewsbury – Steven Adam Zielinski, of Shrewsbury, died Monday, Dec. 10, 2012, with his family was gathered by his side, at UMass Medical Center in Worcester after a courageous battle with cancer. He was 42.
He was born July 14, 1970 in Levittown, Pennsylvania, a son of Joseph and Theresa Zielinski. He graduated from Truman High School and earned his Bachelor's Degree from Bloomsburg University, where he was a member of Lambda Chi Alpha Fraternity. He later earned his Master's Degree in Social Services from Bryn Mawr College. He met Dzintra Ozola there, and they later married June 15, 2002. Work and community brought them to Massachusetts in 2006, where they settled in Shrewsbury.
Steven was working as a social worker for the Veterans Administration Primary Care Clinic on Lincoln Street in Worcester for the past six years.
Diagnosed with osteosarcoma at age 8, he persevered. He lived cancer free for 33 years until being recently diagnosed with another unrelated cancer that he fought until its end. Love wins. Memories of time with his family and friends are what Steven took with him and they are the same memories that bring his family comfort.
He loved the outdoors. Whether fishing, hiking, camping he was happiest being amidst the nature and beauty of the outdoors.
He leaves his wife, Dzintra; their children, Harry, age 9, and Alma, age 4; his parents, Joseph and Theresa Zielnski; his brothers, Thomas and his wife, Margie, Zielinski and Joseph and his wife, Karen, Zielinski, all of Levittown, Pennsylvania; nieces and nephews, Michael, Steven, Amy and Joey; his father-in-law, Dzintars Slaucitajs in Latvia; and many close friends and co-workers.
Family and friends will honor and remember Steven's life by gathering for calling hours Friday, Dec. 14, from 5 to 8 p.m., at Heald & Chiampa Funeral Directors ~ The Sumner House, 5 Church Road, On the Common, Shrewsbury Center, and again from 9 to 10 a.m. on Saturday morning, followed by his funeral service at 10 a.m. Burial will follow in Mountain View Cemetery.
Memorials in his name may be made to Zielinski Family Foundation, in c/o Shrewsbury Federal Credit Union, P.O. Box 227, Shrewsbury, MA 01545.
