Sophia U. (Unikas) Cheske Obituary

Sophia U. (Unikas) Cheske, 94, of Naugatuck passed away peacefully with her family by her side at Abbott Terrace Health Center in Waterbury Tuesday, May 19, 2015. Sophia was predeceased by her husband of 63 years, Francis J. Cheske. Our family would like to thank the staff of Abbott Terrace, particularly 2E, for the kind and gentle care they provided to our mother while she was a patient there.

Mrs. Cheske was born in Waterbury, Conn., where she spent most of her life before moving to Naugatuck. She was the daughter of John and Antanina (Yeskelevich) Unikas. She graduated from St. Joseph’s grammar school and attended Wilby High School. She was a communicant of St. Joseph’s Church in Waterbury. She was employed at Timex Corp. and at S.N.E.T. Co. as a telephone operator and retired from W.J McGinn Construction Co. in Naugatuck, where she was employed as a receptlonist/switchbooard operator.

She is survived by her daughter, Claudia C. Vaudreuil and her husband, Cliff, of Woodbury and her son, Winfield J. Cheske and his wife, Tracy, of Thomaston. She leaves a sister, Theresa Amodeo and her husband, Thomas, of Middlebury; five grandchildren, Tracey Maton of Watertown, Brian Halloran of Middlebury, Winfield Cheske Jr. of Harwinton, Lt. Francis C. Cheske USCG of St. Petersburg, Fla., and Victoria Cheske of Thomaston; six great-grandchildren, Gavin C. Maton and Brendan R. Maton of Watertown, Charlotte Halloran and Brynn Halloran of Middlebury, and Winfield J. Cheske III and Jenna Cheske of Harwinton. She also is survived by several nieces and was predeceased by her nephew and godson, Thomas Amodeo Jr.

Friends and family are asked to attend a Mass of Christian Burial Saturday May 23, 2015, at 10 a.m.at St. Joseph’s Church at 46 Congress Ave. in Waterbury. Those attending are asked to please meet at the church at 9:45 a.m. Burial will follow in New Calvary Cemetery on East Main Street in Waterbury. The Naugatuck Valley Memorial/Fitzgerald-Zembruski Funeral Home is assisting the family with arrangements.

In lieu of flowers memorial contributions may be made to the Alzheimer’s Association of Connecticut, 2975 Silas Dean Highway, Suite 100, Rocky Hill, CT 06067 or to the Abbott Terrace Resident Council Fund, 44 Abbott Terrace, Waterbury, CT 06702. To send an online condolence, please visit www.naugatuckvalleymemorial.com.