Coping with Grief
We would like to offer our sincere support to anyone coping with grief. Enter your email below for our complimentary daily grief messages. Messages run for up to one year and you can stop at any time. Your email will not be used for any other purpose.
Wieslaw “Vin” Kozyrski 79 of Farmington, formerly of Plainville, passed away peacefully at home, surrounded by his loving family, on Wednesday, September 17, 2025. A devoted husband, beloved father and Dziadzi, and cherished friend to many, Vin lived a life rich with laughter, love, and unforgettable stories.
Born in Krasnystaw, Poland, on August 28, 1946, Vin carried the pride and traditions of his homeland with him throughout his life. At the age of 18, he courageously immigrated to the United States, and enlisted in the Army Reserves, serving his new country with pride. He soon after married his childhood sweetheart, Sophia (Farbotko). Together, they settled in Plainville, where they raised two daughters and shared over four decades of travels, dancing, love and life adventures. Sophia’s passing in 2013 left a hole in his heart, but her memory never left his side. Vin later found love again and remarried, joining his life with Josephine Kozdeba and her family who brought warmth, joy, and companionship to his final years.
Professionally, Vin was a brilliant mind and proud engineer at Fletcher Terry Company, where he worked for decades and earned the nickname “The Polish Prince.” His legacy includes nearly 30 patents, each a testament to his creativity, intelligence, and unrelenting work ethic. As a consultant following his retirement, his latest innovation, the “Picture Perfect” hanger, was a source of pride and a fitting symbol of the precision he brought to everything he did.
Beyond his career, Vin was a man of many talents. A gifted painter, his artwork was displayed in the museum of his hometown; a full-circle honor that reflected his deep connection to his roots. At home, he was a devoted gardener, expert lawn-keeper, and supervisor of every household project. Whether mowing the lawn in perfect lines or meticulously planting flowers, his attention to detail was unmatched. He often proclaimed, “I am expert”—a phrase delivered with a smile, and never in jest, because he truly was.
Vin found joy in the simple pleasures: a day on the golf course, the company of friends, a new project to tackle, or a well-timed joke, his warmth and sweetness were magnetic. A familiar face at the Polish Falcons Nest 88 in New Britain, he was the life of every party, a story teller, natural entertainer, and someone who could find the fun in any situation. His legacy lives on not only in his remarkable achievements, but in the love he gave, the laughter he inspired, and the countless lives he touched along the way.
He is survived by his adored daughters, Elena Hacker and her husband Ricky and Dianna Belliveau and her husband Chris; his pride and joy, his granddaughters, Madison and Maya Belliveau; his brothers Tadeusz and his wife Krystyna and Jasiu and his wife Ala; his wife Josephine Kozdeba and her daughters, Margaret Kozdeba (Adam Pogorzelski) and Anna Bil (Jaroslav) and their children, Jacob and Emilia Bil; along with many nieces, nephews and extended family.
In lieu of flowers, Vin may be remembered with contributions to the Polish Falcons Nest 88, 201 Washington St, New Britain, CT 06051 or to Holy Cross Church, 31 Biruta St. New Britain, CT 06053.
Family and friends may gather on Friday September 19, 2025 from 5-7 p.m. at Plainville Funeral Home, 81 Broad St, Plainville. Funeral services will be held Saturday at 9 a.m. from Plainville Funeral Home, with a Mass of Christian Burial at 10 a.m. at Holy Cross Church, 31 Biruta St, New Britain. Burial will follow at Sacred Heart Cemetery. For online expressions of sympathy, please visit http://www.PlainvilleFuneralHome.com
To send flowers to the family or plant a tree in memory of Wieslaw "Vin" Kozyrski, please visit our floral store.