In the wake of a tragic murder-suicide in Simsbury last week, family and friends are mourning the loss of a young couple whose lives ended abruptly.
On the night of Sept. 19, the parents of Elizabeth Day, 24, and Michael Wawrzyniak, 25, received a devastating call from police. Both lives were taken when Wawrzyniak pointed a gun at Day and pulled the trigger before turning the gun on himself at the couple's apartment at The Meadows complex in the Weatogue neighborhood of Simsbury.
Police are still investigating the incidents that led up to the fatal double shooting that night.
Elizabeth, or "Beth" as she was known by those close to her, is remembered as a loving mother of her 14-month-old son Dominik, a talented student, and a valued employee at Ocean State Job Lot where she worked for six years, according to her obituary. Day was a 2006 graduate of Canton High School.
Day leaves behind her parents Jimmy and Joanie (Anasoulis) Day, of Canton, her brother, Jim and her sister, Stephanie. She also leaves her grandfather, Buddy Day of Canton and Tina and Sal Difabio of New Hartford.
"She will be forever loved and missed," the obituary said.
Co-workers at Day's job remember her as friendly and a good worker. Her manager at the store, Bob Kyser, said she was "really well loved."
Neighbors at The Meadows apartment complex where the couple lived for approximately 18 months remember a quiet couple whom they often saw spending time with their son.
Wawrzyniak, a 2005 Canton High School graduate, is survived by his son Dominik, his parents, Jerry and Mary Wawrzyniak, his sister, Bernadette Wawrzyniak and two brothers, Nicholas and Erik Wawrzyniak. He is remembered as a caring and compassionate person who loved the outdoors and spending time with his friends and family, according to his obituary.
Although a story that appeared in The Hartford Courant reported that Dominik's father was still active in his life, Wawrzyniak's mother, Mary, said Michael was in fact the boy's father.
"Perhaps it was a misinterpretation and they meant his grandfather," Wawrzyniak told Simsbury Patch.
Wawrzyniak, devastated by her family's loss, said she was not ready to speak about the tragedy.
"Above all he cherished spending time with his beloved son Dominik, who was the joy of his life," Michael Wawrzyniak's obituary said.
Dominik is currently in the custody of Day's mother, Joan Day of Canton.
Funeral arrangements for both Wawrzyniak and Day have been set for this week.
Elizabeth Day
- Friends may call at the Ahern Funeral Home, 111 Main Street, Route 4, Unionville on Tuesday, September 25, from 11 am – 1 pm. Funeral services will be held in the Ahern Funeral Home at 1 pm with the Rev. Wendell Taylor officiating. Burial will be in Greenwood Cemetery, Avon. Contributions can be made to the Connecticut Humane Society, 701 Russell Road, Newington, CT 06111.
Michael Wawrzyniak
- Private immediate family plus Michael’s close friends may call at the Vincent Funeral Home, 120 Albany Turnpike in Canton on Tuesday, September 25th from 8:30 AM to 10:30 AM followed by a Mass of Christian Burial 11:00 AM at St. Patrick’s Church in Collinsville. Burial will follow in Calvary Cemetery in Collinsville.
