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08/01/2024 03:56 PMRaymond “Ray” Andrew Kusmierski, age 93, of Essex, passed away peacefully on June 21, 2024. Ray was born in Deep River on Nov. 10, 1930, to Polish immigrants Paul and Sophie (Kruszewski) Kusmierski.
Ray grew up on the family farm on West Bridge Street in Deep River and graduated with the Class of ‘48 at Deep River High. His teachers were baffled by Ray’s ability to answer questions using few words; accordingly, his yearbook quote was, “Thought alone is eternal.” His feet, however, communicated elaborately, dancing his way into the heart of his loving Theresa (Broderick), who was his steadfast partner not only on the dance floor but in 69 years of marriage. As a newlywed, Ray was drafted into the U.S. Marines during the Korean War and served primarily in the Mediterranean aboard ships. On leave, he was known for his marathon drives back and forth from the Carolina base to see his sweetheart Theresa, with whom he had four children. Ray was sadly predeceased by Theresa in 2020 and also by his four siblings: Charles Kusmierski, Gladys Zaremba, Julia Huhla, and Frances Lane.
Ray’s first privately owned grocery store in the 1960s was a small store called Ray’s Food Mart in Moodus. On Oct. 29, 1969, he opened the Essex Food Mart on Main Street in Essex which was the former First National site. He enjoyed the retail food industry, the small town Essex community and the numerous people he was able to meet and easily become friends with.
Ray sadly leaves behind his son Raymond Kusmierski Jr. and daughter-in-law Linda of Essex; his son Kenneth Kusmierski and daughter-in-law Beth of Chester; his daughter Joanne Schneider and son-in-law Bill of Middletown; and his daughter Patricia Kusmierski of Essex. Ray will be always remembered in the hearts of his children as well as his grandchildren: Ken Kusmierski Jr. of Chester, Elizabeth Kusmierski and her fiancé Noah of Summerville, South Carolina, Susan Adamy and her husband Bill of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, Greg Schneider and his wife Amanda of East Hampton, David Schneider of Middletown, Mary Kusmierski of Chester and Catie Kusmierski of Chester. He also leaves numerous loving nieces and nephews and their children.
Ray’s kind spirit was felt by family, friends, and acquaintances. We will always remember his strength and keep this within us always.
In lieu of flowers, a donation in his honor would be well suited to a charity of your own devotion.
Visitation was held on June 28 at the Robinson, Wright & Weymer Funeral Home, 34 Main Street in Centerbrook. A funeral Mass was celebrated on June 29 at Our Lady of Sorrows, 14 Prospect Street in Essex. Burial followed with the rending of military honors at Saint Joseph’s Cemetery in Chester.