Thomas A. Skonieczny

Southbridge, MA - Deacon Thomas A. Skonieczny, 77, was called home to Jesus on Monday, November 10, 2025. He died at St. Vincent Hospital in Worcester following an illness. Deacon Tom, as he was affectionately known, was ordained to the Diaconate by the Most Reverend Bishop Timothy J. Harrington on April 25, 1992 at St. Paul’s Cathedral in Worcester. Following his Ordination, he was assigned to the former Sacred Heart Parish in Southbridge, then St. Joseph’s Parish in Auburn. His last assignment was at Notre Dame Parish, now St. John Paul II Parish in Southbridge, from which he retired in 2018 after 26 years of active service as a Deacon.

Deacon Tom was born on February 23, 1948 in Philadelphia, PA, son of the late Edmund T. and Theresa D. (Glowfeskie) Skonieczny. He moved to Worcester, MA in 1950, then to Southbridge where he attended Marianhill High School. He enlisted in the Army in 1965, at the age of 17, and served 4 years in Germany as a radar technician during the Vietnam War. After his time in the service, he worked for Sprague Electric in Worcester. He later worked for Dexter Russell Cutlery in Southbridge, until his retirement in 2010. During retirement he spent countless hours dedicated to ministerial service at St. John Paul II Parish until his health declined due to Parkinson’s Disease.

Deacon Tom was deeply involved with his two sons in Cub Scouts and Boy Scouts, serving as the Assistant Scoutmaster for Troop 160 in Southbridge. He loved the outdoors, taking to hiking local areas, such as Wells State Park, and proudly boasting of hiking to the top of Mount Washington in New Hampshire 12 times. From an early age, he was fascinated by meteorology, measuring local precipitation, documenting local weather conditions each day, which he regularly reported to the NWS Sky Warn Storm Spotter Program.

His other hobbies and activities included volunteering for the American Red Cross of Worcester, traveling with his wife Paula, regularly to Boston for their wedding anniversary weekends, and later with their close friends Deacon John and his wife Pauline Aliskevicz. The trip of a lifetime for Deacon Tom was an 10 Day Alaskan cruise and tour that he ventured on with his wife in 2014, leaving incredible memories to share with everyone. He also enriched his diaconate and spiritual ministry by participating in retreats at St. Benedict’s Abbey in Still River, MA for over 25 years.

Deacon Tom leaves his loving and devoted wife of 56 years, Paula A. (Galipeau) Skonieczny of Southbridge, and his sons, Jeffrey, and his husband, Kristopher of Southbridge, and Brian, and his wife Melanie of Holland, MA. He leaves one grandson, Jordan Skonieczny of Southbridge, who brought immense joy, laughter and light to his life. Deacon Tom also leaves two sisters, Dianne Cost of Tiltonsville, OH and Sheryl Blancato, and her husband Joe, of East Brookfield, MA, and a step-brother, Ronald Brown of Chicopee, as well as several nieces and nephews. He was predeceased by a brother, Steven Skonecy in 2021.

Visitation hours will take place 5-8 PM, Monday, November 17th at St. Mary Church, 247 Hamilton Street, Southbridge, MA with a vigil service at 7 PM. The funeral Mass will be celebrated Tuesday, November 18th, at 11AM at St. Mary Church, 247 Hamilton Street, Southbridge. Burial will immediately follow at St. Hedwig Cemetery, N. Woodstock Road, Southbridge, MA.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in Deacon Tom’s memory to St. Vincent de Paul Food Pantry, c/o St. John Paul II Parish, 279 Hamilton St., Southbridge, MA 01550 or to the Activities Fund, In Memory of Thomas Skonieczny, c/o Life Care Center of Auburn, 14 Masonic Circle, Auburn, MA 01501. Sansoucy Funeral Home, 40 Marcy Street, Southbridge, MA, is directing arrangements.  

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