Magda M. Neznik, 103, of Manchester, passed away Sunday (November 20, 2011) at Crestfield Rehabilitation Center, Manchester. Born Magdalena Maria Neznikova in Porubka, a small village in central Slovakia on November 8, 1908, daughter of the late Jan Neznik and Margit (Schlosserova) Neznik, she resided in Cleveland, Ohio before moving to Manchester nearly 70 years ago to be near her aunt, Mary Kompanik. Magda entered the United States on October 15, 1936 via the S.S. Washington and using a passport issued by the government of Czechoslovakia. She was employed by the Czech embassy in Cleveland, Ohio and worked as a design specialist at the former Norton Electrical Instrument Company in Manchester. She became a citizen of the United States on February 10, 1956. Having never married, Magda's fun spirit, sense of adventure, and sweet demeanor helped her develop rich relationships with family, friends, and business associates. Throughout her life she dedicated herself to the service of others. Magda is remembered by many in Slovakia for her big heart and the countless ways in which she helped her family during and after World War II. Raised in a humble home, she was taught the importance of love, optimism and putting others before herself. She was such a cheerful person that her return visits to Slovakia were, to her family, like a burst of sunshine after a storm. The daughter of a shoemaker, Magda, as a teenager, was sent to Hungary to care for the children of relatives. Her lively personality was an immediate hit with the children. A few years later, while visiting other relatives, she met a woman who had a friend in need. Her friend turned out to be the ambassador's wife in Prague, who was looking for someone to help care for their two children. Magda was ready for an adventure, and she agreed to travel to Prague and help in any way possible. From Prague, she traveled with the ambassador's family to Moscow, Russia and ultimately to Cleveland, Ohio. Whenever someone in her family was in need, Magda was there to help. Even though she didn't earn significant amounts of money during the war and communist regime, she would prepare food packages and send them to her parents, her brothers and sister, and even to her first and second cousins if they were in need. Magda never received anything in return for all the help she gave, and she liked it that way. Life, to her, wasn't about asking for things in return. When she saw a need, she went into action and shared whatever she had at the time. It was as if the simple act of giving aid to those in need was her life's mission. She was a productive and devoted employee of Ralph Norton, owner of Norton Electrical Instrument Company, which specialized in instruments for regulating and measuring. While at Norton Electrical, Magda designed sophisticated devices that were used on submarines in World War II. The dials that she constructed had to be drawn by hand. She also helped build meters and other devices used on submarines. The company was busy during World War II, when Manchester was a center for the defense industry. At the time, the company was making devices for anti-mine apparatus and for the construction of atomic bombs. In early 1945, Norton Electrical was called upon by the United States government for a last-minute part necessary for the completion of the atomic bomb. Magda was charged with traveling to Grand Central Station in New York City to deliver the finished part to a government representative. She completed her delivery and later received a letter of recognition from the U.S. Department of State. Magda's employer, Ralph Norton, owned a two-family home on Oakland St. After the War, Magda resided in one of the units in order to provide constant care for his mother, who had suffered a stroke. Mrs. Norton loved Magda, who helped her for 20 years until her death. Magda later cared for Ralph until his death, residing in and caring for the home until it burned to the ground after having been struck by lightning in 2002. Magda developed an extremely close relationship with the family of Martin and Elizabeth Alvord, her immediate neighbors on Oakland St. The Alvords had two children, who were regular beneficiaries of Magda's love and friendship, not to mention her remarkable cooking and gardening talents. And many of Magda's retirement years were spent babysitting for and laughing with the children of Judith Barry and the late Hon. David M. Barry. The six Barry children loved spending time with Magda, whether she was swimming with them in Long Island Sound, picnicking in Wickham Park or taking long drives in her car that she affectionately named "Lizzy." The family remained close with Magda, sharing more than forty years of graduations, weddings, baptisms, birthdays and Halloween evenings. This past summer, Magda was especially proud to have met little Magdalena Corliss, the daughter of Bridget (Barry) and Dave Corliss of Windsor Locks. Bridget, the youngest of the Barry children, named Magdalena in honor of her beloved babysitter. In addition to the Alvords and Barrys, Magda also cared for the children of Joan Hamilton and the late Dr. Charles Hamilton. And in November 2008, when a 100th birthday celebration was held for Magda at the home of Judy Barry, cousins Olivia Tornai of Groton, MA and Margaret Kompanik Stevenson of Manchester joined Joel Alvord, now of Cambridge, MA, Joan Hamilton of Manchester and numerous other friends and family members to share in the special occasion. Magda loved to share, with anyone who lent an interested ear, rich stories about her life experiences, her family and people who crossed her path. She had an uncanny ability to not only remember people's names, but remember the names of their spouses and children and brothers and sisters and aunts and uncles and all their associated stories. She made her own clothes, constructed stuffed teddy bears, tended her gardens, cooked her own meals and lived independently in her own home until suffering a stroke several weeks ago. Magda's family and friends would like to thank the following individuals and organizations for the kindness they extended to Magda: the Manchester Fire Department and Paul and Beth Litrico of Manchester for periodically checking in on Magda to ensure that she was safe; Paul Berriault of Rockville, who routinely helped Magda tackle household chores, shopping lists and pots of tea; and the staff at Crestfield Rehabilitation Center for their professionalism and for continually blanketing Magda with warm smiles and tender care. Magda is survived by her nieces, Alexandra Neznik of Liptovsky Hradok, Anna Neznik of Zavazna Poruba, Jarmila Neznik Guzmanova of Humenne, Eva Mihalikova of Liptovsky Hradok, and nephews, Karol Neznik of Prague and Marian Neznik of Martin. Besides her parents, Magda was predeceased by her sister, Maria Neznik, brothers, Alexander Neznik, Josef Neznik, and Ernest Neznik, her niece, Beata Neznikova, and nephews, Miroslav Neznik and Jan Neznik. A celebration of her life will be held Saturday (November 26, 2011) at the John F. Tierney Funeral Home, 219 West Center St., Manchester. (Calling hours, 9-11 a.m.; Service, 11 a.m.). In lieu of flowers, memorial donations made be made to the Manchester Historical Society, 175 Pine St., Manchester, CT 06040. For online condolences, please visit www.tierneyfuneralhome.com