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Helen Celestine Butkus

Loving mother, grandmother and devoted wife


Helen Celestine (Patronik) Butkus, 85, the beloved wife of the late Donald E. Butkus, went home to be with the Lord on Saturday, November 26, 2016, surrounded by her loving family.

Helen was born on September 26, 1931, in Wilkes Barre, Pennsylvania, a daughter of the late John Patronik and Johanna (Karaskiewicz) Patronik. Helen’s family moved to Waterbury, CT 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 Mt 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 eleven children: Donald and his wife Twana, of Pasco, WA, 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, FL, 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, December 2nd, at the Congregational Church of Naugatuck, 9 Division Street, Naugatuck from 9:00am to 11:30am. A funeral service will immediately follow at 11:30am.

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.

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