Marie Zwienczakabortionists, abortionistsfemaleAnna Fazio, age 20, underwent an illegal abortion performed in early February of 1929, at the Chicago home of midwife Marie Zwienczak. Anna died mid-month. Zwienczak was arrested, as recommended by the coroner. Stephanie Paczkiewicz was booked on as an accessory, but was not mentioned in the verdict. Zwienczak was indicted for homicide by a grand jury. She was tried, and was sentenced on to 14 years at Joliet Penitentiary.

Marie had been born in Poland around 1883 to John and Sophia (Zborek) Grygierczyk, and had immigrated to the United States 1906 at the age of 24, joining her mother in Chicago. Marie never gave her profession as midwife to a census taker, but I’ve verified her identity on the census from the address of the crime scene where Anna Fazio died. Marie and her husband, Joseph (Jozef), had three children: Pauline “Polly,” born around 1911; John, born around 1912, and Florence, born around 1920. Her husband worked as a mechanic and a janitor. She died October 1, 1944, at the age of 62.