Obituary of Jan Zak

Jan Zak, 88, of Peabody, died Saturday morning at his home following a brief illness. He was the beloved husband of Jadwiga (Sobieraj) Zak with whom he shared over 61 years of marriage. He was born on May 8, 1924 in Poland to Wawrzyniec and Anna (Przebinda) Zak. He attended Polish Schools when his whole village was deported to Siberia in February of 1940, for two years. He then joined the 1st Polish Army Corps under General Stanislaw Maczek during World War II. After the war, he was stationed in the Germany Refugee Camps for a year as part of the occupation army and that is where he met his wife. He immigrated with his future wife to England on a work visa, working in the coal mines and at the officers club. He later married in November of 1949 in Manchester, England. Three years later his son was born here in 1952. In 1954, he traveled with his family to the United States and settled in Peabody. He first worked as a foreman for Premier Shoe Company in Lynn, then New England Auto Sales in Saugus as a car mechanic for over thirty years, and finally, before retiring, for Hansen Engineering in Danvers as a brazier for ten years. Jan was a devoted husband, father, and grandfather and enjoyed spending his free time doing auto body work on cars and small engine machinery. He is survived by his son Henry Zak and his daughter Teresa Zak, both of Peabody, his brother, Stefan Zak, his sister Helen Hayward, both of Peabody and by his sister Aniela Charouk of Beirut, Lebanon. Another sister, Kartazyna Zak passed away in Siberia. His funeral service will be held on Wednesday at 9:00 AM from the Conway, Cahill-Brodeur Funeral Home, 82 Lynn St., Peabody, followed by a Funeral Mass at 10:00 AM at St. Ann’s Church, Peabody to which relatives and friends are kindly invited to attend. Visiting hours will be held on Tuesday from 4:00 until 7:00 PM. Burial will be in Cedar Grove Cemetery, Peabody.