NAUGATUCK — Helen Celestine (Patronik) Butkus, 85, the beloved wife of the late Donald E. Butkus, went home to be with the Lord on Saturday, Nov. 26, 2016, surrounded by her loving family.
Helen was born on Sept. 26, 1931, in Wilkes Barre, Pa., a daughter of the late John Patronik and Johanna (Karaskiewicz) Patronik. Helen’s family moved to Waterbury when she was 9 years old. Growing up in Waterbury, she graduated from Wilby High School in 1949. Helen met her husband, Don, as she worked at Grand Union Supermarket on Church Street in Naugatuck. They married in 1950 and lived on Andrew Mountain Road, where they would go on to have 11 children, 22 grandchildren and 16 great-grandchildren. Helen and Don were married for 57 years.
In addition to raising 11 children, Helen also worked at Hemingway Corporation, Rite Aid, and Fleet Bank until her retirement in 1995. But her passion in her life was her family, pouring her heart and soul into caring, nurturing and loving all her children and husband. Her faith in God carried her through, from the earlier days of her life right up to her final days. Never one to complain, she met the challenges of life with vigor and determination. Helen was a member of Christ the King Church, where she found much comfort, encouragement and joy from the Lord through her church family. Helen was a member of the Naugatuck Women’s Club. Helen also received the Mother of the Year Award presented to her from all her children.
Helen is survived by her 11 children, Donald and his wife, Twana, of Pasco, Wash., Tom and his wife, Nicole, of Naugatuck, John and his wife, Sindy, of Middlebury, Jim and his wife, Debbie, of Southbury, Dave and his wife, Debbie, of Oxford, Bob and his wife, Mary, of Naugatuck, Ed and his wife, Caryn, of Sarasota, Fla., Joe and his wife, Janet, of Southbury, Cheryl Ann Comerford and her husband, Mike, of Oakville, Mike and his wife, Jennifer, of Naugatuck, and Sue Howard and her husband, Gary, of Naugatuck.
Grandchildren include Donny Butkus and his wife, Roxy, Paul Butkus and his wife, Amy, Joel Butkus and his wife, Kristen, Aimee Butkus, Tim Butkus and his wife, Kristen, Andrew Butkus, Sarah Bills and her husband, J, Greg Butkus and his wife, Sharla, James Quest, Nicholas Butkus and his wife, Yokasta, Davey Butkus, Ben Butkus, Bob Butkus and his wife, Nicole, Jen Sefick and her husband, Kyle, Paige Butkus, Peter Butkus, Zachary Butkus, Kaleigh Comerford, Michael Comerford, Kevin Comerford, Mike Butkus, and Mallory Butkus.
Helen is also survived by her sisters, Johanna Kadziewicz, MaryAlice Hanley and Marcia Grisham. She is predeceased by her sister, Louise Krajewski.
Calling hours will be on Friday, Dec. 2, at the Congregational Church of Naugatuck, 9 Division St., Naugatuck from 9 to 11:30 a.m. A funeral service will immediately follow at 11:30 a.m. Arrangements have been entrusted to the Buckmiller Thurston Mengacci Funeral Home, 82 Fairview Ave., Naugatuck.
In lieu of flowers the family asks that contributions in Helen’s honor be made to Christ the King Church, P.O. Box 68, Naugatuck, CT 06770.
To leave an online condolence, visit www.buckmillerthurstonmengacci.com.
