Benjamin (Ben) Thomas Kolodziej, of Sacramento, CA, at the age of 92 peacefully passed while at his residential care home on September 18, 2024.

Ben grew up on his family farm and ranch in Kosciusko, Texas with his parents and 5 siblings. After an ill-fated accident at the age of 16 that left him legally blind, he left to attend the Austin School for the Blind where he was trained as a piano technician, completed his high school education and met his future bride, Sulema Castillo of Pearsall, Texas. Ben and Sue graduated in 1954, married and moved to San Antonio in 1955 and started their family in 1956. In 1965 they moved to Southern California with their 5 children, but later settled in Sacramento in 1967 where they had their 6th child. Ben enjoyed fishing, camping and was an enthusiastic Oakland A’s fan. The whole family rooted for the A’s and wore A’s ball caps and played baseball/softball as well as learned to play musical instruments. Ben and Sue ran the Sacramento Fish and Reel Blind Club where they also provided live musical entertainment with family and musician friends. Ben and Sue also ran the Sacramento Blind Bowling League for several years.

Both Ben and Sue were legally blind, but we’re not sure they knew they were disabled. Ben worked as a piano technician for 45+ years including 30 years working on pianos for the North Sacramento School District. He was a restaurant and vending stand operator, cook and jack-of-all-trades handyman and mechanic not to mention he planted and tended to a very large garden, a large pecan and many fruit trees. Ben taught all his kids to drive and should have been hired by Google as the first talking map as he knew directions, streets and highways for several cities from Redding to San Antonio. If we were to ever get lost, Ben and Sue were both licensed Ham Radio Operators and fluent in Morse code and Spanish.  Ben was also fluent in Polish.  He was able to remember just about every joke he ever heard and enjoyed sharing them. The highlight of his of retirement was time spent with his grandchildren and great-grandchildren.

Ben was born in July 1932 in Kosciusko, Texas. Ben is survived by his wife of 69 years, Sue Kolodzie; son Gary and wife Julie, son Curtis and wife Brenda, son Dale and wife Julie, son Mike and partner Shelley, daughter Jacquelin Castle and husband Richard, son Benjamin; 12 grandchildren, Andrea, Misty, Kassie, Kimmie, Karrie, Todd, Jillian, Nathan, Nicholas, Thomas, Benicia and Franky; 13 great-grandchildren; brother Chester Kolodziej and wife Myrtle of La Vernia, TX; and many loving nieces, nephews and sister-in-laws. Ben was predeceased by his parents, Frank and Julia Kolodziej; and siblings Frances Kotara and husband Clifford, Florence Kolodzie, Joe Kolodziej and Alphonse Kolodziej.  Memories of Ben’s jokes, laughter, determination and generosity will always be cherished. 

Evening Liturgy/Rosary:

North Sacramento Funeral Home, Inc.

Sunday, September 29, 2024 at 7pm

Live Stream

Funeral Mass:

St. Clare Catholic Church

1950 Junction Blvd., Roseville, CA  95747

Saturday, November 23, 2024 at 1:30 pm. Celebration of Life to follow.