OBITUARY KINGSTON – Michael Szczawinsky, 89, passed away peacefully on March 4, 2011 at Kingston Hospital. Born Oct 23, 1922 in Molodyv, Ukraine, he survived being taken from his home as forced labor for first the Russian Armies then the Nazis during WWII. He met His wife Halina in Germany on the farm they worked and after they were liberated, they made the heartbreaking decision not to return home, which was then under Stalin's control, and instead immigrated to England where they settled in Manchester and lived there for 9 years. He worked in a spinning mill, a foundry and then a meat packing plant where he helped to develop a line of sausages and cured meats that were staples of the many Eastern Europeans that had ended up settling in England as he did. He discovered he had an Aunt, his Father's sister, the late Pauline Bullock, living in Glasco. In corresponding with her, she encouraged him to immigrate to the United States so he, his wife and now daughter would have some family. With the help of his aunt, her daughter, the late Mary Kwasnick , met with and sponsored him and his family to come to the United States in December 1956. Within days both he and his wife had jobs, within 6 weeks they had their own home which they eventually bought. Five years later all three family members proudly became American citizens. Settling in Kingston, Michael and his wife exemplified the American Dream of working hard, earning an honest living, and eventually owning a new home. Michael worked as a butcher for the A&P for 23 years working his way up to meat manager before retiring in 1979. He and his wife were members of the Ukrainian Community in Kerhonkson and frequently visited Soyuzika , the Ukrainian National Association Resort in Kerhonkson. He did occasional butcher jobs in retirement and tended to his rental properties in Phoenicia, NY and eventually helping his daughter build her own home in Kingston in 1989. He is survived by his wife Halina, his daughter Marianna Crans and son in law Winfield Crans, two Step Grandchildren and a Great Step Grandchild. He is also survived by siblings, nieces and nephews in Ukraine as well as cousins, nieces, and nephews in Saugerties, Connecticut, Tennessee, Arizona, North Carolina, California and Texas. He and his family were members of St. Joseph's Catholic Church in Kingston and also attended St. Nicolas Ukrainian Catholic Church in Hudson. Friends and family may call 7:00 PM until 9:00 Pm Monday, March 7 at Buono Funeral Service Inc., 100 Main Street, Saugerties, New York. A service will be held at the funeral home at 10:00 on Tuesday followed by burial at St. Mary of the Snow Cemetery in Barclay Heights. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations can be made to the American Heart Association.