Steven Frank Woidyla

Haverhill, MA: Steven Frank Woidyla, age 72, passed away on Tuesday, August 30, 2016 at Merrimack Valley Hospice House after a three and a half year battle with pancreatic cancer. Steve was born in Haverhill, MA on September 14, 1943 and was the son of the late Haverhill Police Officer, Steven and Mary (Madden) Woidyla.

Steve is survived by his life-long best friend and wife, Lorraine Irene (Lesiczka) Woidyla. On May 22nd they celebrated their 51st wedding anniversary. He is also survived by three children, son, Steven A. Woidyla and Lisa Breen of Salem, NH, and daughters, Patricia A. MacRae and fiancé Joseph Carrabino of Lynn, MA and Jean Marie Sargent of Haverhill; his six grandchildren, Jerry, Ashley and Matthew MacRae and their father, Robert MacRae, S. Jacob Woidyla and Allison and Christopher Sargent, Jr. He is also survived by his sister, Maureen and her husband, Doug Gove; sisters-in-law, Betty Lee and Barbara Rollins and her husband, Peter; as well as many nieces, nephews, godchildren, dear friends and neighbors.

Steve was born, raised and lived his entire life in Haverhill. He attended Haverhill public schools and graduated from Haverhill Trade School, Class of 1962, and went to work at Raytheon. Thereafter, from 1963 to 1967, he worked at Belock Instrument Co. as a Quality Control Inspector on the Hawk Missile. When Belock moved out of state, Steve went to work for the City of Haverhill as a Heavy Equipment Operator and Tree Climber. From 1974 until his retirement in 2000, Steve was a Law Enforcement Conservation Officer for the City of Haverhill. He also was a reserve Police Officer for the Town of Groveland, MA from 1983 to 1986 and was a long-time employee and friend of Wally's Vegetables of Haverhill.

From 1963 to 1969, Steve served in the MA National Guard Yankee Division & Reserve of the Army and was honorably discharged as a Staff Sergeant. He was stationed for a short time at Ft. Leonard Wood, MO. He enjoyed fishing, hunting, bowling, and card games with his buddies, his long-time vegetable garden and most especially enjoyed sharing all that he grew with neighbors and friends. He was a member of the Plaistow Fish and Game Club for over 43 years serving on the Board of Directors and as Vice President from May 2015 to April of 2016.

Steve was a life-long member of St. James Parish, Haverhill, MA and a member of the Holy Name Society. In earlier years, he was involved in the annual parish picnics at the Sisters Farm, the St. Patrick's Dinner for Senior Citizens, working the Friday night Bingo games and helping in any way he could.
He cherished family time and loved the Christmas, Thanksgiving and Easter Sunday gatherings and the traditions that went along with them. He especially enjoyed the annual Halloween party at the Bar Harbor Inn on Mt. Desert Island, Maine, trips along the east coast and Canada and our annual vacation in Ogunquit, Maine, as well as traveling anywhere he didn't have to fly! He could strike up a conversation with anyone he happened to meet along the way and somehow always managed to leave them laughing.

Steve was especially grateful for all the support and encouragement from family and friends and until very recently, lived his life doing most everything he had always done. In spite of hating Boston traffic, he considered himself blessed to have received care from the Mass. General Hospital team of Dr. Jason Faris, Patty Tammaro, ACNP, his infusion nurse, John Opolski and Dr. Janet Murphy. His entire family will be forever grateful to them for their care, support and friendship and encouragement.

Relatives and friends are invited to Mr. Woidyla's Life Celebration to be held on Tuesday, September 6, 2016, from 4 to 8 PM at Brookside Chapel & Funeral Home, 116 Main St., Plaistow, NH. His funeral will begin on Wednesday, September 7, 2016, at 9 AM from the funeral home with a Mass of Christian Burial at 10 AM in St. James Church, Haverhill. Burial will follow in St. Patrick Cemetery.

Donations in Steve's name may be made to the Liz Murphy Food Pantry c/o St. James Parish, 6 Cottage St., Haverhill, MA 01830. To send a message of condolence or for directions to the funeral home, please visit our website at www.brooksidechapelfh.com