DUDLEY – Joseph Smoolca, 85, of Dudley passed away Monday, April 8, 2013 at the Rose Monahan Hospice Home, Worcester.
He leaves his wife of over 56 years, Rose M. (Gulczynski) Smoolca; one son, Joseph P. Smoolca and his wife Mary of Windsor, CT; three daughters, Susan R. Brown and her husband James of Plano, TX, Dr. Mary Ellen Smoolca and her husband Daniel Northrup of Ithaca, NY, and Carol A. Walsh and her husband Peter of Katonah, NY; seven grandchildren, Garrett and Victoria Brown, Christian and Matthew Smoolca, and Colin, Christopher and Owen Walsh; nephews and nieces. He was predeceased by two brothers, Paul and Alexander Smoolca and by one sister, Tessie Tishon.
He was born and raised in Eastford, CT, the son of Michael and Eva (Humenczuk) Smoolca. He graduated from Putnam Technical School. He worked on his parents’ farm for many years. He moved here in 1959, into a home he had built.
Mr. Smoolca was a building contractor for over 40 years, building many custom homes in the area. He also built cabinets and furniture for family members. He retired in 1990.
He was a member of Saint Stephen’s Church in Quinebaug. He was a former member of the Dudley Planning Board, a Dudley Assessor and Building Inspector.
The funeral will be held Friday, April 12, from the Sitkowski & Malboeuf Funeral Home, 340 School Street, Webster, with a Mass of Christian Burial at 11:00 AM in St. Stephen’s Church, 130 Old Turnpike
Road, Quinebaug, CT. Burial will follow in Saint Joseph Garden of Peace, Webster. A calling hour will be held from 9:15 to 10:15 AM Friday, April 12, in the funeral home prior to the Mass. Memorial contributions may be made to either St. Stephen’s Church, PO Box 222, Quinebaug, CT 06262 or to the Alzheimer’s Association, 480 Pleasant Street, Watertown, MA 02472-2407.