Ann Marie (Solberg) Czyzewski

Ann Marie Czyzewski / March 25, 1938-July 9, 2020

Mass and memorial is July 19, 2020 1:30 P.M. to 4 P.M (Eastern Time). on Zoom. Contact Ellen  at etlamm@ymail.com

Ann Marie Czyzewski (née Solberg) was born in Rochester, PA on March 25, 1938 to Walter and Josephine Solberg. She grew up in Belleville, NJ, and attended Our Lady of Good Counsel High School—where she made many life-long friends and memories. She enjoyed recounting the story of being ‘impeached’ as the Freshman Class President by one of the Sisters of St. Joseph after the group of classmates she was in charge of got particularly rowdy and out of control. She did not know what ‘impeached’ meant and had to ask her parents after school.

While Ann was later working diligently towards her degree from the Bellevue Hospital/NYU nursing program, she was also busy dating Leo B. Czyzewski. Leo loved to recount how he would close his Pharmacy in Ridgefield, race across the George Washington Bridge, and make it to Lower Manhattan in time to take Ann on a date—and have her back by curfew. She earned her nursing degree from Bellevue in 1960 and was a registered nurse in New York State.

Ann and Leo also married in 1960 and resided in Albany NY, and then ultimately Nutley, NJ for over 50 years—where they raised their three children.

She worked as a registered nurse at Beth Israel Hospital in the Lower East side of Manhattan, taking the bus into NYC for many years from 'the top of the hill.' Ann later went on to receive her bachelor’s degree from Upsala College in 1982 and her master’s degree in 1989 from Columbia University in New York. 

Ann also worked at the United Nations, representing the Grail, an NGO that is committed to empowering women of the world to work for global peace and justice, based on a foundation of spiritual values. Ann shared these devotions.

Ann's calling in life was to help those in need by directly impacting their daily lives in a positive way. Ann volunteering in a tutoring program in Newark, teaching math and reading skills to inner-city youth. Ann and Leo also befriended the families they served, sometimes bringing kids from the tutoring program along with their family for a day of swimming and a picnic at the lake.

She volunteered weekly for many years taking blood pressures, distributing food and making friends at the Grail Community Center in the South Bronx—which was also a part of St. Luke's Parish. Her gentle ways and caring compassion will be greatly missed.

She participated, along with her husband Leo, in the Newman Catholic Community at then Montclair State College, and also at St. Thomas the Apostle Church in Bloomfield. She was a very spiritual person and had a deep faith.

Ann was always there to counsel her many friends who needed advice or guidance, as she was known as a good listener.  Meditation Group was a strong aspect of her spiritual foundation and was also where she enjoyed lifetime friendships with many devoted, creative, spiritually strong and intellectually interesting members.

Ann loved to travel and enjoyed her time with her family and friends. One of her favorite places was Beach Haven on Long Beach Island where her family went for many wonderful summers staying in “the Yellow House.” Riding the waves, The Surflight Theatre, The Holiday Snack Bar and Bay Village will always be remembered. 

Many summers were spent in Montana following Leo’s retirement. The Gallatin Valley routine was so enjoyed, where they would hit the high spots of the Hot Springs and the Bozeman Library, and then meet up with Mark and Ellen-T. at the Food Co-op for a meal.  Ann especially enjoyed finding treasures at the thrift stores to decorate their little cabin on the Broken Hart Ranch. They also loved taking day trips up to Hyalite reservoir, or through the Gallatin Canyon, stopping to do Tai Chi by the river.

Ann also enjoyed many trips to visit her family in California. She was especially close with her Aunt and cousins and visited as often as she could. She would sometimes bring her own grandmother Lucy as well.

She was also a very talented artist and enjoyed painting watercolors…and faithfully did the NY Times Crossword puzzle every weekend—in pen!

A lifetime friend John Parkinson recently shared these thoughts:

Ann Marie had an inner light, a peaceful quality, and a quiet wisdom.  She was a true peace maker—even back in High School she was able to diffuse tense situations with compassion for all involved. She read people and situations well.  She had a wonderful sense of humor, combining her intelligence and quick wit. 

In January 2020, Ann was preceded in death by her loving husband Leo Bernard Czyzewski.

She is survived by her devoted children Mary Malfitano and her husband Anthony, John Czyzewski, and Ellen-Thérèse Lamm; her loving brother Edward Solberg; her loving brother-in-law Walter Czyzewski; her cherished grandchildren David, Adam and Nicole Malfitano, and Rebecca Lamm; and her precious great-grandchildren Sophia, and Amelia Malfitano.  Ann also enjoyed her continued connection with Rebecca's father, Mark Lamm, and always appreciated his devoted and well-crafted communications. Ann will also be remembered by her niece and nephews, Robin Sheffler, Ronald Czyzewski, Jeffrey Czyzewski and her cousins Linda Tajik and Ronald McCart.

"May you be filled with loving-kindness, may you be well, may you be peaceful and at ease, may you be free from pain and suffering.”

Deep gratitude is extended to the many extraordinary, dedicated and loving caregivers at St. Joseph's Nursing Home in Cedar Grove, NJ, and also the Hospice of New Jersey for their exceptional quality of care during these last months of her life.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Doctors Without Borders https://www.doctorswithoutborders.org/

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