Mr Matthew K Zydek's Obituary
Matthew Zydek was born in the south of Poland in 1913. Upon completion of high school, he attended music conservatory. He worked his entire life as a church musician — much of it in several Detroit area Catholic churches
He fought valiantly in World War II with the Polish Army both as a foot soldier and as the army’s band arranger. He was at Monte Cassino in Italy, in Africa and was eventually captured by the Russians as a prisoner of war in Siberia. At the war’s end, he found his way to England and eventually to British Columbia where for a short time he made a living working on farms. In 1949 he married Joan Fiala in Montreal, Canada and moved to Michigan City, Indiana where he secured a position as music director. It was during this time that his wife gave birth to their first son, Stanley. Shortly thereafter, Matthew and his family moved to Detroit, Michigan where his second son Thomas was born. He served many years at St. Thomas the Apostle Parish in Detroit. Thereafter, he worked as organist at St. Bartholomew Parish in Detroit, St. Frances Cabrini Parish in Allen Park, St. Barbara Parish in Dearborn and St. Damian Parish in Westland.
Matthew and Joan moved to Livonia, Michigan where they lived for many years and then to St. Clair, Michigan in the early 1990s where they made many friends and were very active in St. Mary’s Catholic Church.
Matthew is survived by his wife Joan, son Stanley and daughter-in-law June. He was preceded in death by his son, Thomas. Memorials may be made to St. Mary’s Organ Fund.
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