Search Archived Marriage RecordsReverend Father Paul J. Rook
Native son of Cromwell, Connecticut
Ordained in Hartford Connecticut
Priest of the Diocese of Tucson, Arizona
January 25, 1922 – February 2, 2003
Reverend Father Paul J. Rook of Tucson, Arizona, 81, died
on Sunday, February 2, 2003 in Tucson, Arizona.
He formerly lived in Cromwell and was born on January 25,
1922 in Middletown, Connecticut
Father Rook was ordained to the Roman Catholic Priesthood
in 1947 by the Hartford Diocese at The Hartford Cathedral.
He celebrated his First Mass at Saint John Church in
Cromwell, Connecticut.
He then volunteered and dedicated his life to the Diocese of
Tucson, Arizona. He served the Roman Catholic Priesthood in
Arizona for 56 years performing missionary work and
establishing new parishes throughout Arizona. He served
parishes in Tucson, Tempe, Somerton, Yuma, Casa Grande,
Eloy, Pirtleville, Nogales, Patagonia and Solomon, Arizona.
He retired from active duty in 1979, but continued many
other ministry duties until his death.
He was a very loving and generous man who always made
time to remember each and every special occasion of his
entire extended family through his wonderful cards, letters
and phone calls.
Father Rook is survived by his loving family which includes
four brothers, Francis J. Rook of Cromwell, Victor B. Rook,
Sr. of Middletown, Andrew A. Rook of Brooklyn, Peter B.
Rook of Southington; two sisters, Hedwig Kelly of
Middletown, Anna Whitney of Clearwater, FL and many,
many nieces and nephews.
He is predeceased by his parents, John Martin Rook and
Theresa Agnes (Scharmer) Rook of Cromwell; three
brothers, Anthony Rook of Cromwell, Albert Rook of
Redding, John Rook, Jr. of Cromwell; three sisters, Theresa
Gobar Becker of New Britain, Mary Czaja of Springfield, MA,
Helen Aubin of Manchester.
On Monday, February 10, visitation with Rosary and a Mass
of The Resurrection were held at Saint Augustine Cathedral
in Tucson, Arizona. The Funeral Mass was concelebrated by
Most Reverend Manuel D. Moreno, Bishop of Tucson, Most
Reverend Gerald F. Kicanas, coadjutor Bishop of Tucson and
many priests and parishioners of The Diocese of Tucson.
On Saturday, February 15, a Mass of Christian Burial will
take place at 11 a.m. in Saint John Roman Catholic Church,
Cromwell, Connecticut.
There will be a calling hour in Saint John Church from 10
a.m. until the time of Mass.
Burial will be in the Rook Family Plot in Calvary Cemetery in
Middletown.
The burial will be followed by a gathering at the Theresa A.
Rook Community Hall in Cromwell for family and friends.
It was Father Rook's wishes that in lieu of flowers, that mass
cards and/or donations be made to Saint John Church, 5 St.
John's Court, Cromwell, Connecticut in his honor.
The Coughlin-Lastrina Funeral Home, 491 High Street,
Middletown, Connecticut is in charge of arrangements.
In the kindness of your charity, please remember the
Priestly repose soul of Reverend Father Paul J. Rook in your
prayers and Mass intentions.
Reverend Father Paul P. Wysocki
Pastor of Sacred Heart Church, New Britain, Connecticut
Ordination Class of 1954
Priest of the Archdiocese of Hartford
June 30, 1929 - March 14, 2003
The Reverend Fatrher Paul P. Wysocki, 74, Pastor of Sacred Heart
Church, New Britain, passed away Friday (March 14, 2003) at New
Britain General Hospital.
Father Wysocki was born June 30, 1929 in Torrington, the youngest
child of 10 born to the late Ignatz and Agnes (Piotrowski) Wysocki.
He grew up during the depression years, he was baptized and
received his First Communion and Confirmation at St. Mary's Church,
Torrington under the tutelage of Father John P. Kowalski. After his
mother Agnes died in June 1942, Father Paul decided he wanted to
be a priest.
At the time he decided to become a priest he was studying at Oliver
Wolcott Technical Trade School in preparation for a career as a
carpenter.
In order to prepare for his studies at the seminary he returned to
Torrington High School from which he graduated in 1946. In the Fall
of 1946 he entered St. Thomas Seminary in Bloomfield. In 1948 he
was sent to the Seminary at St. Mary's, Baltimore, MD. He completed
his philosophy studies at St. Mary's in 1950. Upon completion of his
study of philosophy he continued preparation for the priesthood with
the study of theology at St. Mary's Seminary, which he completed in
1954.
He was ordained together with 21 other men at the Cathedral of St.
Joseph in Hartford by the late Archbishop Henry J. O'Brien on
Ascension Thursday, May 27, 1954.
Father Paul celebrated his first mass at St. Mary's Church, Torrington
on May 30, 1954. The pastor of St. Mary's Church at the time was
Father John P. Kowalski, who was a dear friend of Father Paul and
his family. Father Kowalski passed away the next morning following
Fr. Paul's first Mass.
Father Paul's first assignment was at SS. Cyril and Methodius Church
Hartford from 1954-1955. He was then transferred to Sacred Heart
Church, New Britain and served under Monsignor Lucjan Bojnowski
from 1955-1958. From there he served as an assistant pastor at St.
Hedwig Church, Union City, from 1958-1962, at St. Adalbert Church,
Thompsonville, from 1962-1967 and at St. Casmir Church, Terryville,
from 19678-1970.
At this point Father Paul asked for and received a leave of absence
from 1971-1972 from the Archdiocese of Hartford to work at SS Cyril
and Methodius Seminary in Orchard Lake Michigan. While at Orchard
Lake he planned and developed the first Polish Language missellette,
Pan z Wami, which eventually would be used and continues to be
used in Polish Parishes throughout the United States and abroad.
Upon his return to the Archdiocese he served at St. Mary Magdalene
Church, Oakville from 1971-1972. From 1972-1973 he served at Holy
Cross Parish in New Britain under the late Msgr. John P. Wodarski.
From 1973-1977 he served as pastor of St. Stanislaus Church in
Waterbury. Upon the death of Father John Balasa in 1977 Fr. Paul
was appointed pastor of Sacred Heart Church on July 8, 1977, where
he served as pastor until his death.
Father Wysocki is survived by his brothers, Eugene Wysocki of
Oceanside, CA, and Leo Wysocki of Santa Ana, CA; his sister,
Josephine Pozniak of Torrington and several nieces and nephews.
Father Wysocki was predeceased by a brother John Wysocki, and his
five sisters, Mary Madore, Frances Wysocki, Stella Wysocki, Eva
Hudak, and Agnes O'Connor.
Father Wysocki's body will lie in state at Sacred Heart Rectory, 158
Broad St., New Britain on Monday, March 17, from 6-9 p.m.
Father Wysocki's body will be received in Sacred Heart Church,
Tuesday at 1:30 p.m. where he will lie in state until 7 p.m.
A Parish Mass in Polish for the repose of the soul of Father Wysocki
will be celebrated on Tuesday at 7 p.m.
A Mass of Christian Burial for Father Wysocki will be celebrated on
Wednesday, March 18, at 11 a.m. in Sacred Heart Church. The Most
Reverend Daniel A. Cronin, Archbishop, Archdiocese of Hartford will
be the main celebrant.
Priests of the Archdiocese of Hartford and friends will be
concelebrants.
Interment will be in Sacred Heart Cemetery, New Britain.
In lieu of flowers memorial donations may be made to Sacred Heart
Church Building Fund, 158 Broad St., New Britain, CT 06053.
Burritt Hill Funeral Home, 332 Burritt St., New Britain is in charge of
arrangements.
In your kindness and charity, please remember the repose priestly
soul of Reverend Father Paul P. Wysocki in your prayers and Mass
intentions.
Reverend Father Raymond A. Woodka, S.S.J.
BALTIMORE, Md. – Reverend Father Raymond A. Woodka, S.S.J. of Baltimore,
formerly of Norwich, died suddenly on September 22, 2002. He served in the
Archdiocese of Baltimore at St Francis Xavier, St. Peter Claver and St. Pius V Parishes.
At the time of his death, Father Woodka served in the treasurer's office of St. Joseph's
Society of the Sacred Heart (The Josephites) and provided daily pastoral service at St.
Peter Claver, St. Pius and St. Alphonsus. He was ordained on June 4, 1966.
Father Woodka leaves four sisters, Pauline Johnson of Norwich, CT; Edna Gilchrist of
Springfield, MA; Sophie Woodka of Norwich, CT and Mary Slowick of North Franklin,
CT; one brother, Henry of North Franklin, CT; and a host of nieces and nephews.
There will be a Christian Wake Service on Friday, Sept. 27, 2002 at St. Joseph Manor,
911 West Lake Ave., Baltimore, Md. at 7:00 p.m. The Mass of Christian Burial will be
Saturday, Sept. 28, 2002 at St. Peter Claver Church, 1546 N. Fremont Ave., Baltimore,
Maryland at 11:00 a.m. The interment will be in the Josephite Plot at New Cathedral
Cemetery, Baltimore, Md.
A memorial service will be held in Norwich on Saturday, Oct. 5, 2002 at 10:00 a.m. at St.
Joseph's Church on Cliff Street.
In lieu of flowers donations can be sent to St. Joseph's Society of the Sacred Heart (The Josephites), 1130 North Calvert Street, Baltimore, Maryland 21202-3802.
Mr. Francesco “Frank” DiMauro
April 4, 1919 – April 20, 2003
Francesco “Frank” DiMauro, 86, husband of Eleonora (Misenti) DiMauro of
32 West Silver Street, Middletown, Connecticut, died Easter Sunday, April
20, 2003 at his home following a long illness.
He was born April 4, 1919 in Melilli, Sicily, Italy, son of the Late: Salvatore
and Vincenza (Fazzino) DiMaruo.
Frank was a member and communicant of Saint Sebastian Roman Catholic
Church, Middletown, Connecticut. He was a Veteran of WW II serving with
the Italian Army and was a Prisoner of War. Prior to his retirement he was
employed by the Connecticut Foundry of Rocky Hill. Mr. DiMauro was an
avid Gardener.
Besides his wife, he is survived by a son and daughter-in-law; Salvatore and
Enza DiMauro of East Hampton, Connecticut. A daughter and son-in-law;
Enza and James O’Connell of Middletown. Four grandchildren; Francesco,
Amy, Mary-Eleonora and James, Jr., also three nieces; Rosa Spedale of Italy,
Jennie Lagana and Lucy Fazzino lf Middletown and a host of other relatives.
He is predeceased by a sister; Conncetta Fazzino.
Funeral services will be held on Thursday, April 24, 2003 at 9:00 AM from
the D’Angelo Funeral Home, 22 South Main Street, Middletown,
Connecticut, followed by a Mass of Christian Burial at Saint Sebastian
Church, 155 Washington Street, Middletown with the Very Reverend Father
Thomas J. Derito Smith, V.F., Pastor as celebrant and homilist of the
Funeral Mass.
Burial will be held in the family plot in Saint Sebastian Cemetery,
Middlefield, Connecticut.
Relatives and Friends may call at the D’Angelo Funeral Home on
Wednesday, April 23, 2003 from 5:00 Pm until 8:00 PM.
Donations in his memory may be made to the Alzheimer's Association, 300
Research Parkway, Meriden, Connecticut.
In the kindness of your charity, please remember the repose soul of Mr.
Francesco “Frank” DiMauro in your prayers and Masses.
