Newington Obituary: Alfonsas Zdanys, 89

Alfonsas Zdanys died peacefully in his home in Newington on December 30, 2016 cared for by his wife and children.

He was born on November 5, 1927, in Kybartai, Lithuania, son of the late Juozas and Stefanija (Skimbirauskas) Zdancevicius. A gifted and enthusiastic storyteller, he talked often about his life in that small town. He talked also about the difficulties he faced after the Russian occupation of Lithuania and how he and his family spent three months walking from Lithuania to the West, caught between the German and Russian armies as the Second World War came to its conclusion. That long walk ended in a refugee camp in Seligenstadt, Germany, sponsored by the United Nations Relief and Rehabilitation Administration, where Alfonsas lived for nearly five years, serving in the camp's police force and participating in athletic and cultural activities.

It was there that he met and married his wife, Janina (Dreslius), to whom he was married for seventy years. They came to the United States in August 1949, settling first in Vermont as part of a U.S. Department of Agriculture refugee resettlement program, and in 1950 moved to New Britain, where he worked in local manufacturing.

In 1969, they bought the Maple Motel in Newington, which they owned and operated until retiring in 1985. During those years he was also active in the choirs of St. Andrew's Church in New Britain and Holy Trinity Church in Hartford. That led to the creation of a men's quartet and later trio that toured Lithuanian communities throughout the Northeast performing traditional and modern Lithuanian music. Those years were highlights of a vigorous lifelong commitment to singing. All who knew Alfonsas marveled at the joy he felt when lifting his voice and telling his story through song.

Alfonsas leaves his wife Janina; his children Ramute Mills of Brecksville, OH, and Gintaras Karosas; Jonas and Jean Zdanys of Wallingford; Leonas and Mary Ellen Zdanys of Woodstock; and Algirdas Zdanys of Newington. He also leaves six grandchildren: William and Renee Mills of Chagrin Falls, OH; David Mills and Molly Jones of Mt. Pleasant, SC; Kristina Zdanys and Algis Kalvaitis of West Hartford; Joanna Zdanys and Jason Lee of Brooklyn, NY; Lee and Jennifer Zdanys of Woodstock; and Jessica Zdanys of Waterford. And, he leaves six great-grandchildren: Alexa, Kate, and Anna Mills of Chagrin Falls; Laura Kalvaitis of West Hartford; and Nora and Ben Zdanys of Woodstock. He also leaves a sister-in-law, Brone Kirkutis Zdanys of Wethersfield, and many wonderful nieces and nephews. He was predeceased by his parents and by his sisters and brothers Eugenija, Ona (Ditrichas), Algimantas, Vitas, and Jonas.

Funeral services are guided by Newington Memorial Funeral Home, 20 Bonair Ave., Newington. There are no calling hours. Family and friends are invited to St. Andrew's Church, 396 Church St., New Britain, from 10 a.m. to 11 a.m. on January 6 to pay their respects. A Mass of Christian Burial will follow at 11 am. Burial will be private.

In lieu of flowers, the family asks that donations in the name of Alfonsas Zdanys be made to the Sisters of the Immaculate Conception of the Blessed Virgin Mary, 600 Liberty Highway, Putnam, CT 06260-2503.

To share a memory, please visit us at www.newingtonmemorial.com.