DUDLEY - Juli-Anne T. (Cournoyer) Stachelek, 70, peacefully passed away Thursday, March 5, 2020 in Harrington Healthcare at Hubbard after struggling with health issues.
She leaves the love of her life and husband of 50 years, Ronald J. Stachelek; 2 sons, Adam J. Stachelek and his wife Jynell Cross of Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, and Anders J. “AJ” Stachelek of New York, NY; 2 beloved grandchildren, Varenna and Ari Stachelek; a brother, Richard Cournoyer and his wife Millie of Wethersfield, CT; 3 sisters, Annette Hamilton and her husband Kenneth of Woodstock, CT, Virginia “Ginger” Gatzke and her husband Ernest of Webster, and Yvette Alexander of N. Grosvenordale, CT; nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by her daughter Rhonda who died at birth, her brother Ovide “Cookie” Cournoyer and sister Dorothy Thibodeau.
She was born and raised in Webster, a daughter of Ovide and Annabelle (Robbins) Cournoyer and lived in Webster and Dudley all her life. She graduated from Bartlett High School with a business diploma in 1967. To develop skills for a career in the insurance industry, she undertook several certification classes with the Insurance Institute of American where she achieved a Certificate in General Insurance which prepared her to be a rater and later an underwriter for Commerce Insurance, now Mapfre, Inc., for many years before retiring in 2008.
She devoted many years to her two sons, providing them with every opportunity to pursue their interests and grow as individuals. This quality time she shared with them also instilled a strong commitment to caring for others, which now extends to her grandchildren.
Juli-Anne, better known as “Grammy” or “Mémé”, absolutely adored her grandchildren and would shower Varenna and Ari with gifts at every visit. Fond of French language children’s songs she would sing them to her grandchildren. She had a beautiful singing voice and was a powerful soloist when she sang in church choir earlier in her life. As an avid reader, she would often read her grandchildren stories while they sat listening intently next to her. She enjoyed coloring and painting to pass the time and would do so often with Varenna and Ari, spending silent and peaceful time together coloring their favorite things.
She loved to laugh heartily and often had a “Julie Joke” at the ready for any occasion. She looked forward to Christmas every year having a respectable collection of Santa Claus figurines that grew each year. More recently she and her husband became RV campers and went on many camping adventures, including cross-country treks to Yellowstone and to visit her family living in Canada.
Her funeral will be held Monday, March 9, from Scanlon Funeral Service, 38 East Main Street, Webster, with a Mass at 11:00 AM in Saint Louis Church, 14 Lake Street, Webster. Burial will be private. A time of visitation will be held from 9:00 to 10:30 AM Monday, March 9, in the funeral home prior to the Mass.