Christel M. (Becker) Kecyk

 GLOUCESTER – Christel M. (Becker) Kecyk 94, of Gloucester, and beloved wife of the late Stefan Kecyk, passed away peacefully at home on December 28th, surrounded by her loving family.

She was born in Stettin, Germany on May 24, 1926, daughter of the late Arthur Ernst Richard and Anna Martha (Bleile) Becker. She was raised and lived in East Germany and moved to Lubeck, Germany with her parents at the age of 20.

At a post war dance in Lubeck, she first laid eyes on Stefan. It was truly love at first sight, with Christel’s co-workers teasing her the next day, calling her Mrs. Kecyk. This chance encounter changed Christel and Stefan’s lives, filling the next 64 years with love, travel and adventure. After the war ended, Christel and Stefan immigrated to Australia to start a new beginning and life together. They resided in Adelaide for 16 years and had 3 children before moving to America. They lived in Defiance, Ohio for a brief time and in 1963 settled in Gloucester. It was in Gloucester that Christel had her 4th child.  

Christel learned much about her family history from relatives in Gloucester, including that her uncle first settled in Gloucester years before. Christel worked briefly at LePage's but spent many of her working years as the bookkeeper for Stefan’s trucking business. Christel and Stefan owned Fairwinds, a coffee shop in Salem, fulfilling Christel’s lifelong dream. Christel was a people person, loved to cook, and enjoyed every minute of the restaurant for 3 years. Stefan and Christel sold the business as the long hours took too much time away from family.

Christel’s most enjoyable job, and the one that gave her the most pleasure, was taking care of her family and spending time with her children, grandchildren, and great grandchildren. She loved to cook, do needlepoint, knit, read, play cribbage, and especially play bingo with her grandson Eric. Stefan and Christel loved to travel together and over the years returned to Germany, visited the U.K., and the Ukraine. They also spent many years traveling to Florida for several weeks at a time to escape the winter. She always loved having visitors pop over and was truly happy when she could entertain a house full of people. Christel's faith was also very important to her and she was a devoted and lifelong member of St. John's Ukrainian Catholic Church in Salem, MA. Although she could not attend as often as she would have liked in her later years, her prayers and thoughts for the parish family were never forgotten.

Her one real love was music. She could listen to the music and sounds of André Rieu, Dutch violinist and conductor of the waltz-playing Johann Strauss Orchestra, all day long. His music reminded her of home and younger days dancing in Germany. She was thrilled to attend a couple of his concerts and spent many days and nights singing along to his CDs and DVDs. His music put a smile on her face and kept her alert in her final days.

Christel is survived by her children, daughter Rosemarie Romanyk and her husband Myron, Michael Kecyk and his wife Donna, Irena Burke and her husband Steven, Steven Kecyk and his wife Marilyn all of Gloucester. Her grandchildren, Natalie Romanyk and her fiancé Steven Brown of Gloucester, Nikolas Kecyk of Gloucester, Alexander Kecyk and his wife Katherine of Rockport, Michael Kecyk and his wife Christine of Gloucester, Erika (Burke) White and her husband Jeffrey from West Hartford, CT, Kathryn Burke and her partner Samuel Cardreon from Austin, TX, and Eric Kecyk of Gloucester. Also her precious great grandchildren, Eloise and Gus White, Alexander and Margaret Kecyk, and Bodhi Kecyk.

The family would like to acknowledge and thank all of the health care workers that assisted Christel over the years, from staff at Gloucester HealthCare to her home health aids especially Amy, Beatrice, Holly, and Rhonda.

ARRANGEMENTS: In light of Covid-19, the State Mandates for the safety, and the well-being of the many friends and extended family we know would have liked to have paid their respects, the family has decided to forgo any visiting hours for Christel. There will be a private funeral and burial with immediate family. At a time to be determined later, when deemed safe to do so, an announcement will be made for a special Liturgy and celebration of life to honor Christel at St. John the Baptist Ukrainian Catholic Church in Salem.  Assisting the family with the arrangements is O’Donnell Cremations – Funerals – Celebrations, 84 Washington Sq., Salem, MA 01970. In lieu of flowers, expressions of sympathy for Christel as a donation to St. John the Baptist Ukrainian Catholic Church, P.O. Box 206, Salem, MA 01970. Sharing written remembrances and condolences, during this time will be essential in helping the family reminisce, celebrate and heal. We encourage you to share your memories by visiting her eternal tribute at www.odonnellfuneralservice.com

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