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Pauline Lazorik
SOUTHINGTON -- Pauline Vargo Lazorik, 85, of Stonegate Road, wife of the late Alexander Lazorik, died peacefully at home surrounded by family and her faithful companions, Calvin and Gabriel.
Born in Bridgeport, on Jan. 2, 1917, daughter of the late Michael and Josephine Holubek Vargo, Pauline resided most of her life in the Bridgeport/Stratford area until she moved to Southington following her retirement. She was employed as a secretary for Dr. Levinson, Remington Arms Co., Efficiency Inc., and Parts Warehouse. She was a parishioner of St. John Nepomucene Church in Bridgeport where she was a Girl Scout Leader and an active member of the Ladies Guild. In Southington, she was a parishioner of St. Thomas Church and a member of the Adult Choir and Ladies Guild. She had an avid love for cooking and crocheting afghans and her family was the fortunate recipient of her talents.
She is survived by her daughter and son-in-law, Joan and James Smith of Southington; her son and daughter-in-law, Sandy and Barbara Lazorik of Yakima, Washington ; five grandchildren, Jason Smith of Boston, Mass., James Smith and Anne Smith of Southington, Renee Armstrong of Yakima, Wash., and David Lazorik and his wife, Michele of Yakima, Wash.; her sisters, Mary Sopko of Bridgeport and Mildred Harris of Indiana; and many nieces and nephews. She was predeceased by her sisters, Ann Halkovic, Frances Pulos, Betty Rich, Rita Hujdic, and Dorothy Miles.
Her funeral will be held on Thursday, Dec. 26, at 9:15 a.m. from the DellaVecchia Funeral Home, 211 N. Main St., Southington to St. Thomas Church, 99 Bristol Street, for a Mass at 10 a.m. Burial will be in St. John's Cemetery
in Stratford at 2 p.m., Thursday. Calling hours will be Monday from 4 to 8 p.m. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to Franciscan Hospice Care, P.O. Box 4001, Meriden, CT 06450 for the loving care and devotion to Pauline in her final days.
Phyllis Pender
WALLINGFORD -- Phyllis Marenna Pender, 74, of Fourth St., passed away in her home, Sunday, Dec. 22, 2002. She was the wife of the late Harry R. Pender Sr. Phyllis was a loving mother who had single-handedly raised her seven children after the death of her husband in 1976.
Born in Wallingford, Jan. 14, 1928, the daughter of the late Dominic and Lucy D'Orsi Marenna, she was a lifelong Wallingford resident. She had been employed as a phlebotomist for the Diagnostic Medical Lab of Wallingford for 16 years until her retirement in 1996. Phyllis was also a talented and prolific poet having created many poems throughout her lifetime, which have been published in several book collections through poetry-based Web sites.
Phyllis is survived by her children and their spouses, Harry R. Pender, Gary D. Pender, Wendy M. Liseo, Daniel and Elena Pender, all of Wallingford, Philip S. and Mary Ellen Pender of Pinellas Park, Fla., Tammy and John Olsen of Ft. Lauderdale, Fla., and Thomas J. Pender of Wallingford; her two aunts, Mary D'Orsi Hager and Fannie (Filomena) D'Orsi Vumback, both of Wallingford; her 12 grandchildren; four great-grandchildren; and several cousins. She was predeceased by her brother, John "Jackie" Marenna.
Her family will receive relatives and friends in the Wallingford Funeral Home, 809 North Main St., Ext., Wallingford, Monday from 4 to 8 p.m. Funeral services will be held in the Wallingford Funeral Home at 6 p.m. Interment will be private in Walnut Grove Cemetery
in Meriden. In lieu of flowers, gifts in her memory may be sent to the Franciscan Home Care, P.O. Box 4001, Meriden, CT 06450.
Theresa M. Santora
NEW HAVEN -- Theresa M. Santora, 88, of 230 Burr Street, wife of the late Carmine Santora, died peacefully, Friday, Dec. 20, at Connecticut Hospice in Branford.
She was born Dec. 3, 1914, in New Haven, a daughter to the late Carlo and Julia (Marro) Marro. Prior to her retirement Theresa was employed at Conzana Bus Co., as a monitor.
She is survived by her two daughters and their spouses, Angelina and (Frank) DellCamera and Margaret and (Ronald) Adams, both of Meriden; one sister, Grace Conroy of Wallingford; five cherished grandchildren; and seven great-grandchildren. In addition to her parents and husband, Carmine, she is predeceased by four brothers; and two sisters.
Family and friends may call at the funeral home on Monday , Dec. 23 from 8 to 10 a.m. A Mass of Christian burial will take place at 10:30 a.m. at Our Lady of Mount Carmel, Goodwill Ave., Meriden. Burial to follow at All Saints Cemetery
in North Haven. In lieu of flowers, donations in her memory may be sent to Connecticut Hospice, 100 Double Beach Road, Branford, CT 06405. The Szymaszek-Taylor Funeral Home, 189 East Main Street, Meriden, has been entrusted with the arrangements.
Helen I. Zyrkowski
MERIDEN -- Helen I. Zyrkowski, 93, formerly of 349 Columbus Ave., wife of the late Joseph F. Zyrkowski, died Saturday, Dec. 21, 2002, at the Miller Memorial Community after a brief illness.
Born in Newark, N.J., Aug. 9, 1909, she was the daughter of the late John and Anna Gano Szydlowski. Mrs. Zyrkowski had resided in Meriden for the past 80 years and was employed by the International Silver Co. for 30 years, retiring in 1972. She was a parishioner of St. Stanislaus Church.
She is survived by a son and daughter-in-law, Stephen and Jeanne Zyrkowski of Mahopac Falls N.Y.; two grandchildren, Kristin and Eric Zyrkowski; and also survived by several nieces and nephews. Mrs. Zyrkowski was predeceased by two brothers, Anthony and Stanley Zyrkowski.
The funeral will be held on Tuesday, Dec. 24, 2002, at 8:15 a.m. from the John J. Ferry & Sons Funeral Home, 88 E. Main St., and at 9 a.m. at St. Stanislaus Church. Burial will be in St. Stanislaus Cemetery. Friends may call at the funeral home on Monday from 4 to 8 p.m.
Frank W. Dobratz
LAKE WORTH, Fla. -- Frank W. Dobratz, 83, of Lake Worth, Fla., formerly of Lake Beseck, Middlefield and Meriden, died Sunday, Dec. 22, 2002, at John F. Kennedy Medical Center in Atlantis, Fla. He was the beloved husband of Florence Logozzo Dobratz.
Mr. Dobratz was born in Meriden, March 6, 1919, a son of the late Emil and Grace Hook Dobratz, he had lived in Meriden and Middlefield for many years until moving to Florida permanently. He had been a supervisor at New Departure Division of General Motors for many years, where he was a member of the Fish and Game Club.
Besides his wife, Florence, he is survived by his three sons and daughters-in-law, Jeffrey A. and Penny Dobratz of Killingworth, Bruce R. and Sandra Dobratz of Plymouth, Mass., and Gary W. and Sandra Dobratz of Meriden; nine grandchildren; five great-grandchildren; and several nieces and nephews. He was predeceased by four sisters, Dorothy Pascucci, Faye Wruck, Ruth Pappas and Shirley Roberts; and two brothers, Raymond Dobratz and James Dobratz.
Relatives and friends are invited to attend a graveside service Thursday, Dec. 26, at 1 p.m. in Walnut Grove Cemetery, Meriden. There will be no calling hours. In lieu of flowers, gifts in his memory may be sent to either the American Heart Association, 5 Brookside Drive, Wallingford, CT 06492, or the American Cancer Society, 538 Preston Ave., Meriden, CT 06450. Arrangements are under the direction of The Yalesville Funeral Home, 386 Main St., Yalesville, CT 06492.
Gordon Fontanella
MERIDEN -- Gordon Fontanella, 87, of 12 South Court, husband of the late Edith "Bunny" G. Harer Fontanella, died Sunday, Dec. 22, 2002, in MidState Medical Center after a brief illness.
He was born in Meriden, March 4, 1915, a son of the late John and Lucia Panciera Fontanella. He was a 1932 graduate of Meriden High School, a 1936 graduate of New York University and a 1937 graduate of the State Teachers College in New Britain. He also received a master's degree in administration from New York University in 1941. He started teaching in the Meriden school system in 1938. He was the first Meriden teacher to leave for military service in both World War II and the Korean Conflict. He served with the Inspector General's Division in the Army Air Corps headquartered in Europe during World War II. He was recalled to duty during the Korean War in April 1951. He retired from the Air Force Reserve in 1963 as a Lieutenant Colonel. He retired in 1975 as Assistant Principal from Maloney High School. He was very active in the Meriden Education Association for many years, serving as its president in the late 1950s. After retirement, he volunteered over 8,000 hours at the Meriden Hospital. He was a parishioner of St. Rose of Lima Church, Meriden.
He is survived by a son, Robert G. Fontanella of Newington; a daughter, M. Kathleen Byrne of St. Augustine, Fla.; two grandchildren, Kevin and Kristyn Fontanella; and a sister, Norma Fontanella; also several nieces and nephews.
Funeral arrangements, under the direction of the Smith-Ruzzo Funeral Home, 450 Broad St., Meriden, will be private, held at the convenience of his family.
Lorenzo Morales
MERIDEN -- Lorenzo "Cowboy" Morales, 64, of 32 Water St., husband of Maria Rodriguez Morales, died on Monday, Dec. 23, 2002, at home after a brief illness.
Born in Aguada, Puerto Rico, on Jan. 7, 1938, the son of Julia Gonzalez Morales of Aguada and the late Sandallio Morales, he had resided in Meriden most of his life. Mr. Morales was employed by the town of Wallingford Public Works Department for 29 years. He was a parishioner of St. Rose of Lima Church.
Besides his wife and mother, he is survived by one daughter and son-in-law, Evelyn and Michael Majeski, one son David Morales and one granddaughter, Jacqueline Majeski, all of Meriden; six sisters, Elba, Margarita, Rosa, Francisca, Theresa and Maria; six brothers, Eugenio, Julio, Nelson, Juan, Sandalio and Manuel; and several nieces and nephews. He was predeceased by a sister, Sixta.
The funeral will be held on Friday, Dec. 27, at 9:15 a.m. from the John J. Ferry & Sons Funeral Home, 88 E. Main St., Meriden and at 10 a.m. at St. Rose of Lima Church. Burial will be in Sacred Heart Cemetery. Friends may call at the funeral home on Thursday from 4 to 8 p.m. In lieu of flowers, contributions in his memory may be made to CT Hospice, 1000 Double Beach Road, Branford, CT 06405.
Francesco Napolitano Sr.
WALLINGFORD -- Francesco "Frank" Napolitano Sr., 76, beloved husband of Mollie Russo Napolitano, of Algonquin Drive, Wallingford, entered into eternal peace, Sunday, Dec. 22, 2002, at the MidState Medical Center in Meriden.
Born in London, England, Sept. 27, 1926, he was a son of the late Giovanni and Antoinette Grimaldi Napolitano, and had been a Wallingford resident for many years. He was employed by the Masonic Healthcare Center in Wallingford for many years until his retirement several years ago and has since been the proprietor of the Quinnipiac Barber Shop in Wallingford. He was a member of the Compass Lodge No 9 AF and AM of Wallingford and a parishioner of Our Lady of Fatima Church.
Besides his wife Mollie, he is survived by his two daughters and son-in-law, Elaine and Edgar Clement and Roberta A. Hodsdon; his two sons and daughters-in-law, Robert B. and Trisha Hodsdon and Francesco "Frank" Napolitano Jr. and Valerie A. Napolitano, all of Wallingford; eight grandchildren; his three sisters, Ann Reynolds of Meriden, Mary Powell and Margaret Holman; and his four brothers, Charlie Napolitano, Nick Napolitano, John Napolitano and Anthony Napolitano, all of England; and several nieces and nephews.
His family will receive relatives and friends in the Wallingford Funeral Home, 809 North Main St., Ext., Wallingford, Thursday from 4 to 8 p.m. Funeral services will be held Friday at 9 a.m. from the Wallingford Funeral Home, when the funeral cortege will proceed to Our Lady of Fatima Church where a Mass of Christian burial will be celebrated at 10 a.m. Interment will be private. In lieu of flowers, gifts in his memory may be sent to the American Heart Association, 5 Brookside Drive, Wallingford, CT 06492.
Joyce D. Palumbo
MERIDEN -- Joyce D. Palumbo, 71, formerly of Carriage Drive, died Saturday, Dec. 21, 2002, in MidState Medical Center after a brief illness.
She was born in Bristol, R.I., Aug. 9, 1931, a daughter of the late Adolph and Rose LaFlamme Ferreira. She was a resident of Meriden for the past 42 years. She had been employed for several years by the City of Meriden at the Veterans Memorial Hospital. She was a parishioner of St. Rose of Lima Church.
She is survived by three daughters, Virginia Fontanella of Brentwood, Tenn., Mary Ellen Palumbo of Valencia, Spain and Felicia Palumbo of Fletcher, N.C.; one son, Norman R. Palumbo of No. Smithfield, R.I.; five grandchildren; one sister and brother-in-law, Corinne and Joseph Pacheco of Miami, Fla.; and several nieces and nephews.
Relatives and friends are invited to her memorial service Friday, Dec. 27, with a gathering at 10:30 a.m. in the Smith-Ruzzo Funeral Home, 450 Broad St., Meriden. with her prayer service at 11:30 a.m. Interment will be private.
