Newington Obituary: Dolores Gustin, 88

Dolores (Haddad) Gustin, 88, of Newington, died peacefully on Sunday, Aug. 13, 2017, with her husband Joseph by her side. For 68 years, she was married to the love of her life, Joseph J. Gustin.

Born in Worcester, MA, on Aug. 25, 1928, daughter of the late William T. and Eva Haddad, she was raised in Springfield, MA, and graduated from Commerce High School. Dolores resided in Newington for the past 59 years and was a devoted member of the Church of the Holy Spirit, Newington, and its Ladies Guild.

She attended the University of Connecticut where she studied for her real estate and insurance brokerage licenses. An early female realtor and insurance broker, she was vice president of The Joseph J. Gustin Co. and general manager of its insurance division located on West Main St. in New Britain for over 30 years, where she provided all types of commercial and personal lines of insurance. She was admitted to the Century Club of U.S.F. & G. for excelling in production. She also served as secretary of The Independent Insurance Agents Association of New Britain. Dolores enjoyed an impressionable reputation for the many services she provided throughout the years.

Dolores and Joe enjoyed spending many winters at their homes in Florida. She was a member of Island Dunes Country Club on Hutchinson Island, FL, and Monarch Country Club in Palm City, FL. A golfing enthusiast, Dolores also enjoyed memberships at Indian Hill Country Club, Avon Country Club and Shuttle Meadow Country Club. Among her many golfing achievements, her greatest joy was receiving her Hole-In-One award. She was a member of many social and service organizations, including The Soroptomist Club.

A loving and devoted mother, grandmother and great grandmother, she leaves three daughters and their husbands, Susan and Roger Helal of Newington, Laurel and Donald Klepacki of New Britain, Jody and Stephen Viola of Farmington; seven grandchildren, Stephen Helal and his wife Marissa of Holliston, MA, Ashley Hancock and her husband Justin, and Douglas and his wife Alyssa Helal, all of Berlin, Patrick and Joseph Klepacki of New Britain; and Stephen and Ryan Viola of Farmington; and four great grandchildren, Shayla and Colin Helal, Madison and Keegan Hancock. She also leaves her sister Loretta Kallil of Sylvania, OH; her brother Thomas Haddad of Spencer, MA; two sisters-in-law Elizabeth Basil of West Hartford, and Dr. Marie Gustin of New Britain; and many nieces and nephews. She was pre-deceased by her brother and sister, Albert and Vivian Haddad.

Her funeral service will begin with a Eulogy given by her daughter Susan Helal, on Monday, Aug. 21, 2017, at 9:00 a.m. at the Newington Memorial Funeral Home, 20 Bonair Ave., Newington, followed by a Mass of Christian Burial at 10:00 a.m. at the Church of the Holy Spirit. She will be laid to rest in St. Mary Cemetery, New Britain. Relatives and friends are invited to call on Sunday from 2:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m. at Newington Memorial.

Memorial donations may be made to St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, 501 St. Jude Place, Memphis, TN 38105 or to the National Shrine of the Divine Mercy, c/o Association of Marian Fathers, Eden Hill, Stockbridge, MA 01263.

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