Obituary: Theodore J. ‘Ted’ Zielenski, 89, of Wallingford

WALLINGFORD, CT — (From Wallingford Funeral Home): Theodore J. “Ted” Zielenski, 89, of Wallingford, passed away at his home on Friday, February 10, 2023. He was the loving husband of the late Rose Marie (Farone) Zielenski for 64 years and the most loving and cherished father of his daughter Sally (Mrs. James) Grego of Wallingford, his late son, Paul Zielenski, and his beloved son in law, the late James Grego. His pride and joy were his twin grandchildren, Michael and Melissa Grego.

Ted was born in Wallingford, December 29, 1933, a son of the late Joseph and Sally (Kurcaba) Zielenski. Ted enjoyed his career as a plumber and then superintendent for James T. Kay Company. He was regularly seen at Sala’s Corner Store buying and scratching lottery tickets. He was often a lucky winner!

His daily routine included not only buying lottery tickets, but also spending time at the cemetery with his beloved wife, stopping to pet Coco and giving her a treat, cooking dinner for his daughter and grandchildren, and watching numerous sports events as a true NY Yankees, NY Giants, and UCONN Basketball fan.

Ted was an avid hunter and fisherman, enjoying trips to Wyoming and Labrador where he rode on horseback to the middle of nowhere for a week in the outdoors. He and his wife were devoted members of the Church of the Resurrection and were seen weekly in the back pew at the Saturday night mass.

Ted enjoyed many Fourth of Julys entertaining with his cherished wife, Rose, around their backyard pool. Who could forget their Fourth of July parade where all were asked to wear a hat and sing? Anyone who knew him, also knew that if something wasn’t working, Ted knew how to fix it. He was a true jack of all trades building his own home, as well as his daughter’s. Ted helped to create one of the tightest nuclear families one could ever meet.

His family was always his number one priority. He will be sorely missed.

In addition to his daughter Sally, and his grandchildren Michael and Melissa; he is survived by his sisters, Janet (Michael) Melillo, and Sally (Donald) Touchette; and his sisters in law Nancy Zielenski and Pauline (Walter) Jones; as well as many nieces and nephews.

He was predeceased by wife Rose, his brothers Joseph and Walter Zielenski, his sister-in-law and brother-in-law Josephine and Francis Simeone; as well as the aforementioned Paul Zielenski and James Grego.

Ted’s family will receive relatives and friends in The Wallingford Funeral Home, 809 N. Main St. Ext., on Friday, Feb. 17 from 4 to 7 pm. Funeral services will be held on Saturday at 9 AM from the funeral home when the funeral cortege will proceed to the Church of the Resurrection, where a mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at 10 a.m. Interment will follow in Ss. Peter and Paul Cemetery in Wallingford.

Gifts in his memory may be sent to The Church of the Resurrection Building Fund, 115 Pond Hill Rd., Wallingford.

For more information and to leave online condolences, visit Wallingford Funeral Home here.