Sophie Stanek

She was born in Southington on May 28, 1917 the daughter of the late John and Stanislawa Wojnilowicz . The family moved back to Europe in the 1920?s where she was educated. She returned to the US in 1939, prior to the outbreak of WWII. She was a avid gardener and accomplished cook who truly loved to entertain her friends and family. Her grandchildren will treasure their fond memories of many pool parties on warm summer afternoon?s hosted by their grandparents at their Southington home.

Mrs. Stanek was an active member of St. Aloysius Church and it?s ladies guild. She was also a member of the Mended Hearts Society and one of the first individuals to undergo a successful major life saving open heart surgery in Boston, MA, performed by the renowned thoracic surgeon Dr. Dwight David Harkin in 1960 at Peter Bent Brigham Hospital and was assisted by Dr. Henry B. Low, founder of the thoracic surgery department at Hartford Hospital. Mrs. Stanek traveled extensively throughout Europe with her late husband and spent over 20 years wintering with many friends on Anna Marie Island in Florida.

She is survived by her son Attorney Robert S. Stanek and his wife J.D. of Farmington, a daughter Barbara Butler and her husband Attorney William Butler of Scotch Plains, NJ, four grandchildren, Rob Stanek of Bryn Mawr, PA, Elizabeth Stanek of Nantucket, MA, Attorney Cathleen Butler- D?Orsi and her husband Christopher of Mountainside, NJ, and Gregory Butler and his wife Mora of Boston, MA , 3 great grandchildren Jane and Kevin Butler and Drew William D?Orsi. She is also survived by her loving sister Anna Drozd of Southington, and 3 additional sisters Helen Stanulewicz, Veronica Ostrowska, and Stacia Stanulewicz of Bialorus.

She was predeceased by her grandson William Butler and a brother John Wojnilowicz

Mrs. Stanek will be fondly remembered by her family and friends for her energetic spirit, her genuine kindness, her generosity and more importantly her enduring love for her family. The family would especially like to thank her health caretakers, Josephine, Virginia, Lilly and Ivonna and the nurses and health care aides, from the Hospice and Palliative Care of CT VNA of Wallingford, for all that they have done during her last few years.

The Funeral will be held on Thursday July 20, 2006 at 11 a.m. at St. Aloysius Church, 354 Burritt St. Plantsville, Calling hours will be on Thursday from 9:30 a.m. to 10:30 a.m. at the DellaVecchia Funeral Home, 211 N. Main St. Southington.

In lieu of flowers donations may be made in her memory to the American Heart Association,2550 US Highway 1 North Brunswick, NJ, 08902 and the Hospice and Palliative Care of CT VNA, 33 North Plains Rd. Wallingford, CT 06492

Visitation

Date

Time

Thursday, July 20, 2006

9:30 a.m. - 10:30 a.m.

Visitation Location

DellaVecchia Funeral Home

211 N. Main St.

Southington, CT 06489