SOUTHBURY — Our beautiful and gracious mother, grandmother and friend, Jean (Poole) Oemcke, passed away from a long battle with heart disease on Aug. 7, 2021. She was the widow of Dr. Bernard F. Oemcke, to whom she was married for 62 years.
Jean was born in Waterbury on Dec. 6, 1934, to Sandy and Gertrude (Benz) Poole, and graduated from Hopeville School and Wilby High School. After graduating, she worked at The Bristol Company, where she met the love of her life, Bernie Oemcke. They married in 1954 and moved to New York City, where Bernie began studies for his Doctor of Chiropractic degree and Jean worked as executive secretary to the vice president of the nuclear division of Combustion Engineering.
After his graduation, they moved to Middlebury, where they would reside for 50 plus years; where he would embark on a century-long chiropractic career and they would raise their family. Their greatest joy was spending time with their family and friends at their backyard pond, as well as their Cape Cod home. Their children all grown, Bernie and Jean moved to Heritage Village in Southbury in 2014.
Jean was known in the Waterbury area for her many years of dedicated volunteer work, most notably as president of the Waterbury Day Nursery Association for many years. Under her leadership, the nursery school for the needy flourished and grew, and her involvement there spanned over 30 years. Because of her volunteerism there, she received the Anderson Boys Club Humanitarian Service Award in 1998 and the Grace F. Upson Volunteer of the Year Award in 2009.
She also served on the board of directors of St Mary’s Hospital Auxiliary, as president of the Theresians of Waterbury, a member of the Community Visions for Waterbury Educational Committee, United Way’s Community Awareness Phonathon Committee, and St. Mary’s Hospital Foundation Phonathon Committee. She was a proud member of the Red Hat Society’s Cheshire Chapter and a communicant of St. John of the Cross Church.
Jean is survived by her four devoted children, Patricia (John) Rowland of Middebury, Gail Sluis of Bewster, Mass., Cheryl Summa of Burlington, Vt., and Dr. Glen (Kathleen) Oemcke of Southbury. Grandchildren left to cherish her memory are Scott (Alexandra) Largay, Julian Summa, and Evan, Jason, Lauren, Katelyn, Meghan, Ellen and Ryan Oemcke. Jean also had three step-grandchildren, Kirsten (Matthew) Velezis, Julianne Rowland and Robert Rowland; and her step-great grandchildren, Grey and Ella Velezis. She was predeceased by an infant son, Brian; her grandson, Ryan Largay; and her son-in-law, Brian Sluis.
Jean’s family would like to thank Dr. Paul Kelly, Dr. MaryBeth Aquavia and the nursing staff of St. Mary’s Hospital for their exceptional care of their Mom.
In accordance with Jean’s wishes, there will be no calling hours. A mass of Christian burial will be on Saturday, Aug. 14, at 11 a.m. at St. John of the Cross Church, 1263 West St., Middlebury. Arrangements have been entrusted to the Buckmiller Thurston Mengacci Funeral Home, 82 Fairview Ave., Naugatuck.
In lieu of flowers, Jean wished that donations be made to the Greater Waterbury Campership Fund, c/o The Waterbury Republican American, PO Box 2090, Waterbury, CT 06722.
To leave an online condolence, visit buckmillerthurstonmengacci.com.
