Search Archived Marriage Records
BUCZYNSKI
John J. Buczynski, 48, of Manchester, beloved husband of Carol (Drouin) Buczynski, died suddenly, Friday, April 7, 2000, at Manchester Memorial Hospital.
John was born Feb. 3, 1952, in Riverhead, Long Island, N.Y., son of the late Joseph and Maria (Czarnecka) Buczynski, and was a resident of Manchester for the past 14 years. In 1982, John received his bachelor of science degree in biological science and chemistry from Central Connecticut University; his bachelor of arts degree in psychology in 1986 with special mention; his Registered Nurse degree from Greater Hartford Community College in 1988; and his doctor of divinity degree from the Church of Inner Wisdom in 1992. John was ordained a minister for the Church of Esoteric Studies in 1995. He was certified as a hypnotherapist from the Institute of Hypnotherapy in 1996 and was a member of the International Association of Counselors and Therapists. In 1997 John received a Reiki master degree attunement (ancient Tibetan healing method by the laying on of hands) and in 1998 he became a past life regression therapist. He was a member of the Astara Society of Esoteric Study and a student and practitioner of Tai-Chi. John was a member of Captain Stephen Buchland's Company of Artillery (historical reenaction of the Revolutionary War period) since 1986, and a member of the National Rifle Association.
Besides his wife, Carol, of 18 years, he is survived by his father- and mother-in-law, David and Laura Drouin of Willimantic; sister-in-laws and brother-in-laws, Joan and Donald Leal of Manchester, David and Midge Drouin of Columbia, and Thomas and Petra Drouin of South Dakota; several nieces and nephews; and a very special friend, Theresa Zanetti.
A funeral service will be held at 4 p.m. Tuesday, April 11, at the Coventry Funeral Home, 2665 Boston Turnpike, Route 44, Coventry, with the Right Rev. Lynn Rydowski officiating. Burial will be private.
Calling hours will be from 1 to 4 p.m., just prior to the service, on Tuesday, April 11, at the funeral home.
Memorial contributions may be made in John's name to the Nature Conservancy, 55 High St., Middletown, CT 06457.
GARDNER
Albert T. Gardner Jr., 73, of Enfield, formerly of Manchester, husband of Josephine Gloria (DeSimone) Gardner, died Saturday, April 8, 2000, at a local convalescent home.
Born June 12, 1926, in Manchester, son of the late Albert T. Gardner Sr. and Mary Elizabeth (Clifford) Gardner, he had been a resident of Enfield for many years. Mr. Gardner was a veteran of World War II, serving in the U.S. Navy. He was employed in the building maintenance department of Pioneer Aerospace Corp. for more than 44 years until his retirement due to his health in 1996. He was a former communicant of St. James Church in Manchester, and attended Holy Family Church, Enfield. Mr. Gardner was a member of the AARP.
Besides his wife, he is survived by four children, Linda Whitcomb and her husband, Frank, of Manchester, Thomas Gardner of Enfield, Michael Gardner and his wife, Mary, of Vernon, and Daniel Gardner and his wife, Patricia, of Bolton; a sister, Lorraine Murphy of Manchester; eight grandchildren, Kelly Smith, Karen Gardner, Traci and Kerri Whitcomb, Jennifer and Kevin Gardner, and Caitlin and Riley Gardner; five great-grandchildren, Kylee, Jenna, Sarah, Calvin, and Janae; an uncle, Russell Clifford of Manchester; and several nieces, nephews and cousins.
A prayer service will be held at 11:30 a.m. Wednesday, April 12, at Holmes Funeral Home, 400 Main St., Manchester. Burial will follow in East Cemetery, Manchester, with military honors.
Family and friends may call from 5 to 8 p.m. Tuesday, April 11, at the funeral home.
Memorial contributions may be made to the American Diabetes Association of Connecticut, 300 Research Parkway, Meriden, CT 06450.
KRAVONTKA
Elsie (Passacantell) Kravontka, 78, of Manchester, the beloved wife of Andrew Kravontka, died peacefully at her home on Saturday, April 8, 2000.
Born in Manchester, she was a lifelong resident. Elsie was a communicant of St. James Church, Manchester.
Besides her husband, she is survived by two sons and daughters-in-law, Mark and Janet Kravontka, and Kevin and Janet Kravontka, all of Manchester; five grandchildren, Kristine, James, Michael, Andrew, and Kara; and several nieces and nephews.
Family and friends are invited to attend a Mass of Christian Burial at 10 a.m. Tuesday, April 11, at St. James Church, 896 Main St., Manchester. Burial will follow in St. James Cemetery, Manchester.
There are no calling hours.
The John F. Tierney Funeral Home, Manchester, has charge of arrangements.
Memorial donations may be made to the St. James School Foundation, Box 254, Manchester, CT 06045-0254.
McDONALD
Charles E. McDonald, 83, of Manchester, husband of the late Florence (Wilson) McDonald, died Saturday, April 8, 2000, at a local convalescent home.
Born July 2, 1916, in Hartford, son of the late Harry E. and Pauline (Merchant) McDonald, he had been a resident of Manchester for more than 40 years. Mr. McDonald was a policeman for the Hartford Police Department for more than 25 years, retiring in 1969, and was a member of the department's Benevolent Society.
He is survived by a sister, Mildred M. Tuohy of West Hartford; four sisters-in-law, Dorothy Hubbard, Helen O'Connell, Gladys Garrison, and Edna Bangasser, all of Manchester; and several nieces and nephews. He was predeceased by a son, Thomas C. McDonald; two brothers, George and Harry McDonald; and two sisters, Dorothy McGann and Claire DeRosa.
A funeral service will be held at 9:15 a.m. Wednesday, April 12, at Holmes Funeral Home, 400 Main St., Manchester, followed by a Mass of Christian Burial at 10 a.m. at St. James Church, 896 Main St., Manchester. Burial will follow in East Cemetery, Manchester.
Family and friends may call from 6 to 8 p.m. Tuesday, April 11, at the funeral home.
Memorial donations may be made to the Connecticut Children's Medical Center, Attn: Vince Arsenault, 12 Charter Oak Place, Hartford, CT 06106.
MELFA
Joseph A. Melfa, 78, of Windsor Street, Enfield, beloved son of Pauline (DiRosa) Melfa of Enfield, and the late Alfonso Melfa, died Friday, April 7, 2000, at Johnson Memorial Hospital, Stafford Springs.
He was born in Pemberton, W.Va., and lived in Enfield for more than 75 years. He served in the U.S. Navy during World War II, and participated in five invasions in Africa, Sicily, and Italy; he was a ship-sinking survivor and was credited with saving an officer in the incident. He was a member of the AMVETS, Patrick F. Triggs Post No. 1501-VFW, and Tanguay Magill Post No. 80, American Legion. He had been employed at the former Bigelow Sanford Carpet Co., and operated Melfa Shoe Repair on South Street for many years. He also was in retail sales, and was employed for a time at Holy Family Church.
Besides his mother, he is survived by a brother, Michael A. Melfa and his wife, Helen, of Enfield; two nieces, Rosalyn Keeney of Somers and Paul Gowdy of Dover, Mass.; two grandnieces, Kristin and Erin Gowdy; and a grandnephew, Brian Gowdy. His sister, Mary Melfa Maniscalchi, predeceased him.
A funeral service will be held at 11 a.m. Tuesday, April 11, at the Leete-Stevens Enfield Chapels, 61 South Road, Enfield. Burial will be in St. Patrick King Street Cemetery, Enfield, with military honors.
His family will receive friends from 9 to 11 a.m. Tuesday, April 11, at the funeral home.
Memorial donations may be made to the Enfield Community Ambulance Fund, Box 1249, Enfield, CT 06082.
ROJECKI
Anthony "Tony" J. Rojecki, 79, beloved husband of more than 58 years to Carmella M. (Smarelli) Rojecki of South Windsor, died Saturday, April 8, 2000, at Manchester Memorial Hospital.
Born in Mapleville, R.I., son of the late Louis and Mary (Perkowski) Rojecki, he lived in Webster, Mass., for many years before moving to South Windsor 35 years ago. Prior to his retirement in 1983, Anthony was employed by Pratt & Whitney Aircraft, East Hartford, for 18 years. He was a U.S. Navy veteran of World War II, proudly serving on the destroyer, USS Gherardi. He was a member of St. Margaret Mary Church, South Windsor.
Besides his loving wife, he is survived by a son and daughter-in-law, John E. and Angela Rojecki of Gorham, Maine; three daughters and sons-in-law, Barbara A. and Louis Godzik of Thompson, Deborah R. and Allen Cavicchi of Bolton, and Susan L. Millet of Wausau, Wis.; nine grandchildren, Tamara Kruzel, Brenda Duquette, Gregory and Matthew Godzik, Lindsay, Alyssa, and Stella Rojecki, and Katie and Michael Cavicchi; six great-grandchildren, Danielle, Nicole, and Stephanie Duquette, Tyler and Alexandra Kruzel, and Michaela Godzik; a brother, Joseph Rojecki of Vashon, Wash.; a sister, Emily Daniel of Marietta, Ga.; and several nieces and nephews. Anthony was predeceased by a sister, Winnie Patrowicz.
A memorial Mass will be held at 10 a.m. Tuesday, April 11, at St. Margaret Mary Church, South Windsor. Interment will be in Wapping Cemetery, South Windsor, with military honors.
There are no calling hours.
Samsel & Carmon Funeral Home is caring for arrangements.
Memorial donations may be made to the Vernon Visiting Nurse Association, 8 Keynote Drive, Vernon, CT 06066.
BAKES
Robert C. Bakes Jr., 36, of Manchester, husband of Britt C. (Swanson) Bakes, died unexpectedly Saturday, May 27, 2000.
Born in Cleveland on Jan. 3, 1964, he was raised in Ohio and had been a resident of Manchester for the past four years. Bob was employed by Sleepy's Bedding Store, and also operated Bodies By Bob personal training.
Besides his wife, he is survived by his daughter, Audrianna Maury of Glastonbury; his stepdaughter, Christa Asselin of Manchester; his father and sister, Robert C. Bakes Sr. and Deborah Bakes, both of Scottsdale, Ariz.; and numerous family and friends.
A memorial service will be held at 6 p.m. Thursday, June 1, at the Emanuel Lutheran Church, 60 Church St., Manchester. Burial will be private in Ohio.
Friends may call from 3 to 5 p.m. Thursday, June 1, at Watkins Funeral Home, 142 E. Center St., Manchester.
BERISTAIN
Haiganoush (Sobajian) Beristain, 92, of Newington, widow of Daniel M. Beristain, whom she married
June 17, 1929, died Saturday, May 27, 2000, at University of Connecticut Health Center.
She was born March 31, 1908, in Sepastia (Sivas), Turkey, the daughter of Hagop and Makrouhi (Ananikian) Sobajian, and lived in Newington for 16 years. She cherished her Armenian heritage and her family. A survivor of the Armenian Massacre by the Turks in 1915, she, her mother, and cousin made the death marches, and after many stops, ended up in an orphanage outside Beirut that was run by American relief. One of the Americans knew her uncle, Professor Mardiros Ananikian, who was stationed at the Hartford Seminary in Hartford. He rescued her, her mother, and cousin. She arrived in America as a 13-year-old, and spoke no English. She attended American International College in Springfield. One of her persistent wishes throughout her life was for the Turks to admit to perpetrating the massacre of 1 million Armenians. This did not happen in her lifetime.
She is survived by three children, Celia Johnson of Newington, Barbara Eastman and her husband, Elwood, of Enfield, and Charles Beristain and his wife, Victoria, of West Hartford; her seven loving grandchildren, Phyllis Bartos of Hartford, Cindy Eastman of Windsor, Daniel Eastman of Enfield, Kelly Fisher of Enfield, Gregory Johnson of Southwick, Mass., Melissa Beristain of New York, and Suzanne Martin of Topsfield, Mass.; and nine great-grandchildren.
The funeral will be held at 10 a.m. Wednesday, May 31, at the Rose Hill Funeral Home, 580 Elm St., Rocky Hill. Burial will be in Rose Hill Memorial Park, Rocky Hill.
Calling hours will be held from 7 to 9 p.m. today, May 30, at the funeral home.
Donations may be made to St. George Armenian Church, 22 White St., Hartford, CT 06114; or to the Connecticut Hospice, 270 Farmington Ave., Suite 229, Farmington, CT 06032.
JEFFERY
Rose E. Jeffery, 85, formerly of Suffield Street, Windsor Locks, died today, May 30, 2000, at Kettle Brook Healthcare Center, East Windsor.
She was born in Windsor Locks and resided there all her life. Rose was the daughter of the late John and Jennie Bernocco Jeffery. She was a member of St. Mary Church, Windsor Locks, the Windsor Locks Fire Department Women's Auxiliary, and the Windsor Locks Senior Center.
Rose is survived by a brother, Charles of White River Junction, Vt.; her sisters, Delia Jeffery and Irene Gibbs, both of Windsor Locks; nephews, Kenneth Kraiza of Windsor Locks, Louis Rossi of East Hartford, Roger Gibbs of New York, and Kenneth Jeffery of Windsor Locks; a niece, Catherine Brown of Windsor Locks; and several great-nieces and -nephews. Rose was predeceased by brothers Anthony, George, and John; and sisters Mary Rossi and Alice Kraiza.
The funeral will be held at 9 a.m. Thursday, June 1, from Browne Memorial Funeral Chapels, 43 Shaker Road, Enfield (exit 48 off Route 91, Route 220 east 1 1/4 miles), followed by a Mass of Christian Burial at 10 a.m. at St. Mary Church, Spring Street, Windsor Locks. Burial will be in Windsor Locks Cemetery.
The calling hours are from 5 to 8 p.m. Wednesday, May 31, at the funeral home.
Memorial donations may be made to St. Mary Church, 42 Spring St., Windsor Locks, CT 06096.
