Obituary: Ernest J. Collette

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Ernest J. Collette
Ernest J. Collette

WATERBURY — Ernest J. “Corky” Collette, 98, husband of the late Tessie J. (Obidjenski) Collette, passed away on Friday, June 17, 2016 at Glendale Center in Naugatuck.

Ernie was born in Waterbury on Oct. 2, 1917, son of the late Alphonse and Celanise (Lagasse) Collette. A lifelong Waterbury resident, he was a graduate of St. Anne’s School. He retired in 1979 from Lombard Brothers Trucking after 39 years of service. He was a life member of the Franco American Club and a member of the Teamsters Local 677 Union. During his youth, Ernie was an amateur boxer. He was a communicant of St. Stanislaus Kostka Church and was a member of St. Stanislaus Church Society.

He is survived by his sons, Kenneth Collette and his wife Cindy of Waterbury, and Brian Collette and his wife Betty of Naugatuck; his seven grandchildren; his 13 great-grandchildren; his one great-great-grandchild; and his longtime companion, Helen Wilkowski of Waterbury. Ernie was predeceased by his son, Daniel Collette; his brothers Louis, Henry and Thomas, and his sister, Alice Jegela.

The family wishes to thank the staff at Glendale Health Center and VITAS for the kind and compassionate care given to Ernie during his illness.

His funeral will be held on Wednesday June 22, 2016 at 9 a.m. from the Naugatuck Valley Memorial/Fitzgerald-Zembruski Funeral Home, 240 North Main St., Naugatuck, to St. Stanislaus Kostka Church, 100 East Farm St., Waterbury for a Mass of Christian Burial at 10 a.m. Entombment will follow in Calvary Queen of Peace Mausoleum, East Main Street, Waterbury. Calling hours will be held on Tuesday from 5 to 8 p.m. at the funeral home.

To send an online condolence, visit www.naugatuckvalleymemorial.com.