Obituary: Evelyn A. Gelezunas

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Evelyn A. Gelezunas
Evelyn A. Gelezunas

MIDDLEBURY — Evelyn A. (Huth) Gelezunas, 87, passed away Monday evening, Dec. 30, 2013, at Waterbury Hospital after a brief illness. She spent her final hours on earth surrounded by the love of her daughters, extended family, and friends.

Truly a member of the “Greatest Generation,” Evelyn was born on Aug. 22, 1926, in Bancroft, Wis., eldest daughter of the late Joseph and Elsie (Schraeder) Huth. She grew up in Neenah, Wis., and graduated from Neenah High School, Class of 1944, with her baccalaureate ceremony taking place on D-Day.

After moving to Chicago for work, Evelyn met her husband of 58 years, Clement J. Gelezunas, a Union City native who was studying art in Chicago after his service in the Army Air Corps in World War II. They married on Jan. 6, 1949, at St. Mary’s in Union City and remained devoted to each other until Clement’s passing in September 2006.

Evelyn worked in the office of Wheeler Electronics, later Sperry, in Waterbury for many years, then as bookkeeper for T. M Barnes & Son, her husband’s chain link fence company in Bridgeport, as well as for local businesses. Her financial acumen was legendary; she also served as expert financial advisor and tax preparer for grateful clients.

A woman of great intelligence, compassion, dignity, propriety, grace, wisdom and good humor, Evelyn wrote witty and memorable letters treasured by their recipients. Always well-read, she kept informed in literature, current events, history, the arts, poetry, nature and many other areas; her lifelong love of learning, especially her daily appreciation for the Waterbury Republican-American and the Boston Globe, held true until her final days and served as an inspiration to her family and friends. Personable and friendly, she was known and loved by many in area libraries and businesses. She loved to travel and enjoyed many day trips with her daughters to museums and historical sites such as the mansions of the Hudson River Valley. Her love of beauty was evident in her stylish mode of dress and her love of life in her appreciation of simple pleasures such as a cup of coffee, a good book, her flower garden and the birds at her feeder.

Her proudest achievement was mothering her three beloved daughters, Mary-Clement, (life partner Kai Price) of Monson, Mass. and identical twins Bonnie (husband Dr. Nicholas) Boccarossa of Norwalk and Linda (husband Vincas) Liaukus of West Milford, N.J. With characteristic enthusiasm, she embraced her role as grandmother to Emily, Joseph, and Mark Boccarossa and Linna Liaukus.

She also leaves her sister, Phyllis G. Huth, and two brothers, William J. and Gerald R. Huth, all of Neenah, Wis.; her two sisters-in-law, Albina Hunter and Jean Gelezunas, both of California, as well as five nieces and two nephews; her cousins Helen Denver of Naugatuck, Carol Usher of Guilford, Diane Hallstrom of Nevis, and Jeanne Walshon of Skokie, Ill., as well as her dear friend and housekeeper, Barbara Quadrato of Bethlehem, neighbors Greg and Maryann Barnes, and numerous other cousins and friends. Evelyn loved us all deeply and will be deeply missed.

Evelyn’s family would like to thank Dr. Savarese and Dr. Kelly and the caring and compassionate staff at Waterbury Hospital and VITAS.

A memorial service will be held on Saturday, Jan. 4, at 10:30 a.m. at the Naugatuck Valley Memorial/Fitzgerald Zembruski Funeral Home, 240 North Main St., Naugatuck. Friends and family may call at the funeral home from 9 a.m. until the time of service. Burial will follow in St. James Cemetery, Naugatuck.

Memorial contributions can be sent to Michael Mucciacciaro, Treasurer, Greater Waterbury Campership Fund, c/o the Republican-American, P.O. Box 2090, Waterbury, CT 06722.

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