WORCESTER-John Stankus, 86, of Worcester, died Monday, June 23rd in St. Vincent Hospital. He leaves his wife of 58 years Dorothy Pearl (O’Reilly) Stankus, with whom he would have celebrated their 59th anniversary on August 20th; four sons, Michael J. Stankus of Worcester, James J. Stankus of San Diego, CA, Thomas J. Stankus and his wife Nancy A. of Plymouth and John C. Stankus and his wife Sandra R. of Worcester; two daughters, Janice K. Stankus-Nakano and her husband Gordon K. Nakano of San Diego, CA and Joanne M. Silverstein and her husband Alan G. of Ten Mile Bank, England; a sister, Anne Breault of Worcester; six grandchildren, Christopher J. and Jared M. Stovell, Celia L. and Mathilda L. Silverstein and Allie R. and Erica L. Stankus; several nephews and nieces; and his cat, Shadow. Three brothers, Anthony, Joseph and Louis predeceased him.
He was born in Worcester, the son of Charles and Helen (Yuciute) Stankus. Mr. Stankus was employed by the Norton Company for 35 years until his retirement in 1984. He was a WWII U.S. Coast Guard veteran who proudly served aboard the USS Wakefield. Mr. Stankus was an avid New England sports fan and enjoyed fishing, traveling and spending time with his grandchildren.
The funeral is Friday, June 27th from O’CONNOR BROTHERS FUNERAL HOME, 592 Park Avenue, with a Mass at 10:00 AM in St. Casimir Church, 41 Providence Street. Burial will be private. Calling hours are Thursday, June 26th from 4:00 until 7:00 PM in the funeral home. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Jimmy Fund/Dana Farber Cancer Institute, Tribute Program, 10 Brookline Place West, Brookline, MA 02445.