Nassau Woman Wins $7 Million Lotto Jackpot

Halina Jozwik, a 72-year-old retired seamstress from West Hempstead, won $7 million in the New York Lottery while buying coffee at her local 7-Eleven.

Jozwik, a Polish immigrant, bought the ticket in late March.

“I gave the ticket to my husband to scratch in the car as I drank my coffee,” said Jozwik. “He saw a match on number 28 but didn’t scratch off the prize amount. That’s what he does.”

“I thought it might be $7,000, but then I saw more zeroes,” said Ronnie Jozwik, Halina's husband. “We both thought it might be a fake at first.”

The Jozwiks took the ticket home and called their son, who is an accountant.

“They asked me to stop over after work,” said Ted Jozwik, the couple’s eldest child. “They never said anything about the ticket. It took them a while to bring it up even after I got there.”

Jozwik said the family is still getting used to the idea of coming into so much money and has not yet made any plans beyond helping family.

“We’ll make other plans when we collect the money,” laughed Ronnie.

Halina will receive her $7 million prize as a one-time lump-sum payment, netting her $4,632,600 after required withholdings.

Photos: New York State Lottery