Kathleen Mezynieski

Kathleen Mezynieski, who lived in Wainscott for 50 years, died at South­ampton Hospital last Thursday of kidney failure. She had been ill for almost 20 years and on dialysis for the last two, said her husband, Mitchell Mezy­nieski. She would have been 72 on Saturday.

An East Hampton Village native, Mrs. Mezynieski was born at Southampton Hospital on Dec. 19, 1943, to Luther Hampton and the former Marie Mekol. Her grandparents Margaret and Charlie Mekol helped to raise her.

She graduated from East Hampton High School, where she met her husband, a third-generation Wainscott resident. Married in 1962, they built a house on his family property on Town Line Road and lived there until last year when they moved to Noyac, next to their daughter and her family.

Before she became ill, Mrs. Mezy­nieski worked for 10 years as an aide at Eastern Suffolk BOCES in Westhampton, a job she enjoyed, her husband said. She was a longtime member of the Wainscott Sewing Society and a good bowler with a high average, participating in leagues at the old East Hampton Bowl for many years. Fifteen years ago, when she lost much of her eyesight, she had to give up the sport.

In addition to her husband, Mrs. Mezynieski leaves two children, John Mezynieski of Riverhead and Joanne Backlund of Noyac, as well as two brothers, Charles Sickler of Patchogue and Kevin Sickler of Hampton Bays. She is survived also by two grandchildren, Christopher Backlund and Emily Backlund, who, said her husband, were the joys of her life.

A graveside service was held at the Wainscott Cemetery on Sunday, followed by a reception at the Wainscott Chapel.