Therese Bukowski

Therese (Morin) DesRoches Bukowski, of Wethersfield, beloved wife of the late John Bukowski for 29 years, passed away peacefully in her sleep on Sunday, April 7, 2024 at her home, having been surrounded by so much love, after a long and full life. Therese was 97 years old, two weeks shy of her 98th birthday, and had been in declining health in recent years. Therese was born in Buckland, Canada on April 21, 1926, one of eight children of the late Joseph and Anna (Belanger) Morin. Her parents immigrated to CT, settling in Willimantic. Therese was a woman of strong faith, having devoted a great deal of time to St. Lawrence O’Toole Church, The Rosary Altar Society and teaching religion class. She was a very proud woman, determined to raise and support her seven children on her own. She persevered and made many sacrifices to reach that goal; she became a hairdresser during her single parenthood, which was an incredible accomplishment. Therese graduated from The Connecticut Institute of Hair Dressing. She was an extremely hard worker, yet still remained a dedicated, devoted and loving mother, instilling faith and strong values in all of her children. Therese was an amazing cook and baker and her signature dishes were always appreciated by all. Her specialty was her superb apple pie, which was as delicious as its picturesque presentation.

Therese worked tirelessly to always be present for and supportive of all of her family members. She helped in any way she could, from sewing clothes and first prize-winning costumes, to making meals and helping care for her grandchildren, to assisting generations move into new homes. Her favorite pastime was making crafts, solving word puzzles, watching old movies, listening to music from years past and spending time with her family.

Therese was very blessed to have John Bukowski come into her life; they blended their adult families, married and attended Corpus Christi church for many years. More recently, Therese was a communicant of the Church of the Incarnation. Therese was predeceased by her sons, Thomas DesRoches and Dennis DesRoches, and the father of her children, Leonard DesRoches. She leaves her remaining children, Lorraine, Richard and wife Sally, Lucille and husband Robert, Paul and wife Karen, Michael and wife Janet; her daughter-in-law, Tina-Marie Desroches; stepdaughter, Cheryl Spencer and husband Brian; grandchildren, Lori Roberts, Joseph Maloney III, Lee DesRoches, Kathy Palladino, Edward DesRoches, Paul DesRoches II, David DesRoches, Amy DesRoches, Kelly DesRoches, Bryan DesRoches, Nicole Sandillo, Heather DesRoches, Melissa and Amanda Spencer and Paul and Pamela Blocher; eight beloved great-grandchildren and several nieces and nephews. Therese was also predeceased by her siblings: loving sisters, Irene, Yvette and Gemma, and brothers, Clement, Robert, Emile and Raymond. Special thanks to Therese’s kind, loving caregivers, Bozena, Maria and Renata, who were compassionately by her side until the end, as well as all the hospice staff at Hartford Healthcare at Home.

A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated on Friday, April 19 at 10:30 a.m. at the Church of the Incarnation of Christ the King Parish, 544 Prospect Street, Wethersfield. Everyone is asked to please go directly to the church. Burial will follow in Rose Hill Memorial Park, Rocky Hill.

Family and friends may call on Thursday, April 18 from 4-7 p.m. at the D’Esopo Funeral Chapel, 277 Folly Brook Boulevard, Wethersfield. Donations in Therese’s memory may be made to the Alzheimer’s Association, 200 Executive Blvd., Suite 4B, Southington, CT 06489. To share a memory of Therese, please visit www.desopofuneralchapel.com