Rudolph "Rudy" Sokolowski

Rudolph "Rudy" Joseph Sokolowski, 81, of Willimantic, passed away peacefully at home after a yearlong battle with cancer, on Oct. 18, 2013 with his family at his side. Rudy was born on Chapman St. in Willimantic on Sept. 16, 1932, the tenth of eleven children of Polish parents Catherine and Zigmund Sokolowski. He served in the military first in the National Guard and then four years in the U.S. Air Force (two in Alaska) with the rank of Staff Sergeant. Rudy was employed as a steamfitter by Local #218 and #777 and worked on both CT. Yankee and Millstone Nuclear power plants. He was a member of Fin, Fur and Feather Club, Willimantic Elks Lodge, American Legion and Polish Club. Rudy's great love was flying his Cessna 150 airplane he kept at Windham Airport. He was an avid reader and enjoyed the challenge of the Daily News crossword puzzles. He also enjoyed solitaire on the computer, working outdoors, fishing and hunting. Rudy was a devoted communicant of St. Joseph Church in Willimantic where he faithfully attended daily morning Mass. He is survived by his wife, Shirley (Glaude) Sokolowski (owner of Albert's Beauty Salon). They were married in 1956 at St. Mary church in Willimantic. He is also survived by a son Glenn Michael Sokolowski of Windsor Locks, Tina Marie Walsh of Chaplin and Sherlene Ann Eberwine of Suffolk, VA; 3 granddaughters, Jasmyn Walsh, Bryana Vega and her husband Hector and Leah Early; grandsons Timothy Walsh II and Carlos; 4 great grandchildren, Isaiah and Jonathan Bartlett and Mia and Elysha Vega and sibling on the way; siblings Joseph "Joey" Sokolowski, Fredrick "Freddie" Sokolowski, Benjamin "Bennie" Peters and Isabelle Rowan; and many neices and nephews. He was predeceased by siblings Thaddeus Sokolowski, Janet Farbman, Helen Sokolowski and Margaret Moore. His family will receive relatives and friends on Monday Oct. 21, 2013 between 6:00 and 8:00pm at Potter Funeral Home 456 Jackson St. (Rte. 195) Willimantic and also at the funeral home on Tuesday between 9:30 and 10:30am prior to his 11:00am Funeral Mass at St. Joseph Church, 99 Jackson St. Willimantic. Interment will follow in St. Joseph Cemetery, Windham. In lieu of flowers, his family suggests memorial donations to Covenant Soup Kitchen, 220 Valley St. Willimantic, CT. 06226. For an online memorial guestbook and directions to the funeral home, please visit www.potterfuneralhome.com .