Ellington Obituary: Cecile Karlowicz, 82

Cecile Karlowicz was escorted by our Lord Jesus Christ on her final journey on Tuesday, August 28, 2018. Cecile had a strong faith and lived a close relationship with our Lord. She depended on and had ultimate trust in Him. Although after her husband passed away she lived alone; she was very happy living with her faith.

She was the beloved wife of the late Robert J. Karlowicz, Sr. Born in Hartford, daughter of the late Odilon and Lina (Caron) Laflamme, she grew up in West Hartford, graduated from St. Joseph Academy in West Hartford, and spent her married years in Hartford before moving to Ellington in 1991.

Cecile was a daily communicant at Cathedral of St. Joseph, Our Lady of Sorrow in Hartford, and later at St. Joseph in Rockville, St. Luke in Ellington, and St. Bernard in Vernon. She was very active in many events at OLS, including the St. Gerard Mother’s circle, bookkeeping for the church, ran movies and dances, and also helped the grade school students. She was also a parish Trustee for OLS.

Before working as Secretary and bookkeeper at St. Luke’s church, she was Eucharist Minister to several homebound parishioners at nursing homes and hospitals, and also did hospice and bereavement work. Cecile was a foster mother to many children and babysat as well for working moms. She was also active in the Ellington, Vernon, and Willington Senior Centers.

She especially enjoyed the time she spent with her children and grandchildren camping in their motor home. Those are times the family will never forget.

Cecile is survived by her children, Robert Karlowicz, Jr. of Bristol; Steven Karlowicz, Sr. and his wife Rebecca of East Haddam; Cindy Dwyer and her husband David of Stafford Springs; and Thomas Karlowicz and his wife Carrie of Vernon; grandchildren, Ronald Digby , Jr. and his wife Melissa, Jennifer Bonn and her husband Michael, Briana Caya, Samantha Digby, Kaitlyn Karlowicz, Danielle Caya, Joshua Karlowicz, Benjamin Karlowicz, Tabatha Karlowicz, and Krystal Dwyer; and great grandchildren, to whom she was affectionately known as “Grandma Jelly Bean,” Emma Digby, Kyleigh Bonn, Jake Digby, Kaleb Bonn, and Ryder Steven Moore. Besides her husband, she was predeceased by a daughter, Lori Caya; a grandson, Steven Karlowicz, Jr., her brothers, Ernest, Roger, Edmond, and Armand Laflamme; and a sister, Rita Walsh.

Her family will receive friends on Friday, 5-8 p.m., at the Ladd-Turkington & Carmon Funeral Home, 551 Talcottville Rd., Vernon. Friends and family may meet directly at Our Lady of Sorrow Church, 16 Greenwood St., Hartford, on Saturday, September 1, 10 a.m., for a Mass of Christian Burial. Interment will follow in Mount St. Benedict Cemetery, Bloomfield.

For on-line condolences, please visit www.carmonfuneralhome.com.