Obituary of Edward A. Kozwich, Sr.

PEABODY – Edward “Ed” A. Kozwich, Sr., beloved husband of Catherine M. (Cavanaugh) Kozwich, died peacefully on Friday evening March 24, 2017 at the Rosewood Skilled Nursing and Rehab Facility in Peabody, following a brief illness. Born in Salem, he was the son of the late Emil and Rose (Sedlak) Kozwich. He grew up in Peabody where he was a lifelong resident, and graduated from Peabody High School, Class of 1942. He passed up a college scholarship to start working in his father’s business, building the family business of Bay State Cleaning Company across a wide area of Massachusetts. He worked until recent health issues prevented him, and the business has gone through three generations. As a young boy, Ed sang in the choir at St. John the Baptist Church in Peabody. He developed his gift of singing and studied with several voice coaches, and many from around the North Shore would request him to sing at various functions or at church. He would often show his sense of humor, when asked if he would sing at that persons own funeral, Ed would say “sure what’s the date?” He was very civic-minded and performed many community service events as a Life Member of the Lions Club of Peabody. He served not only in the Peabody Chapter, also as Regional Director for Massachusetts. He served as Treasurer in Peabody for many years as well. Ed was instrumental collaborating with his chapter to sponsor Eye Research and expanded that project around the world. He often attended conventions, gathering thousands of pins, and also sang at Madison Garden at International Conferences. His most important passion and dedication was being a husband, father, grandfather and friend, to whom he supported with a generous, giving spirit. He relished in giving people “the needle” and was always ready to lend a hand to help out a fellow person. He is survived by his wife Catherine M. (Cavanaugh) Kozwich of Peabody, with whom he shared nearly 73 years of marriage; two sons, Michael A. Kozwich of Swampscott and Edward A. Kozwich, Jr. of Peabody, and a daughter Katherine M. Grant and her husband Lawrence Grant of Danvers; two grandsons, Jeffrey Grant of Lynn and Kevin Grant of Beverly; two great-grandchildren, Colin and Elijah Grant of Beverly, and other extended family and friends. He was father of the late Mark Kozwich. Relatives and friends are kindly invited to gather on Friday March 31, 2017 at 10 AM from the Conway, Cahill-Brodeur Funeral Home, 82 Lynn St., Peabody, followed by a Funeral Mass at 11 AM in St. John the Baptist Church, Peabody. A visitation will be held on Thursday from 5 – 8 P.M. in the funeral home. Burial will be in St. Mary’s Cemetery, Salem. Memorial donations may be made to the MA Lions Eye Research Fund, Inc., P.O. Box 6050, New Bedford, MA 02742-6050 or www.masslionseyeresearch.org Please visit www.ccbfuneral.com for online obituary & sign condolences.