PROSPECT — Frances (Krzykowski) Makauskas, 87, widow of Walter J. Makauskas, passed away at her home on Thursday May 24, 2018.
Mrs. Makauskas was born in Naugatuck on Nov. 6, 1930, daughter of the late Walter and Julia (Chenkus) Krzykowski. She graduated with high honors from both Hop Brook Elementary School and Naugatuck High School.
As a senior at Naugatuck High School, she was a member of the drama club, which consisted of writing and performing in plays. While attending high school, Frances was employed part time at Uniroyal in the general accounting department. She continued working there after graduation, and was in charge of decorating the department Christmas tree, which won first prize as best tree over all the other departments. She was also selected by members of her department to represent them in the annual Miss Uniroyal Pageant.
Frances was an active member of Holy Saviour National Catholic Church and was a member of the Ladies Adoration Society. At age 16, she became the choir director and church organist. After her marriage in 1954, she became a member of St. Joseph Church in Waterbury. As members of the PTA at St. Joseph School, she and her husband were instrumental in establishing a school library. Frances was appointed the first librarian, and decorated and organized the library a happy place for the students to come. She taught the Dewey Decimal System to grades four through eight and grades K through three also had classes in the library. She also directed drama classes for students, held book fairs, and chaperoned class trips. Frances enjoyed reading, knitting, and polka dancing, where she had met her husband.
She is survived by her daughters, Debra Caruso and her husband, Emil, and Karen Smith and her husband, William; her four grandchildren, Gregory Caruso and his wife, Vanessa, Stephen Caruso and his wife, Stephanie, Jessica Smith, and Kelsey Samples and her husband, Jeremy; and her great-grandchildren, Logan, Brandon, Charlie, Georgia Caruso, and Ashley Lauren; and several nieces and nephews, as well as her Holy Saviour Church family. Frances was predeceased by her husband, Walter, of 59 years; her brothers, Vincent and Caesar Krzykowski (Sabina); her sisters, Cora Kosakowski (Chester), Irene Sosnowski (John) and Betty Zigmont (Edmund).
Her funeral will be held on Wednesday, May 30, 2018 at 9 a.m. from the Naugatuck Valley Memorial/Fitzgerald-Zembruski Funeral Home, 240 North Main St., Naugatuck, to Holy Saviour National Catholic Church for services at 10 a.m. Burial will follow in Holy Saviour Cemetery in Naugatuck. Visitation will be held on Tuesday from 5 to 7 p.m. at the funeral home.
Memorial contributions may be made to the Holy Saviour Development Fund, 118 Prospect St., Naugatuck, CT 06770.
To send an online condolence, visit www.naugatuckvalleymemorial.com.
