Windsor Obituary: Dolores Sopelak, 77

Dolores "Dorie" (Zingle) Sopelak, 77, of Windsor, beloved wife of Robert E. Sopelak, passed away on Wednesday, July 6, 2016. While surrounded by her family during her final moments, she expressed sincere gratitude for the abundant blessings she had received throughout her life as well as the countless special relationships she treasured.

Dolores was born in Scranton, PA on July 20, 1938, daughter of the late John Zingle and Helen Deskus, and moved to Connecticut as a small child. She graduated in the top of her class from East Hartford High School in 1958 and worked at the UTC Research Center on the NASA Space Program, marrying her husband in 1959. Dolores and Robert welcomed their first child in 1960 and were blessed with five more children over the next ten years. Her family was her number one focus, and she encouraged and protected her children even into adulthood.

During the early years and long after her children had left home, Dorie always found ways to contribute to the needs of the family. Whether she was helping her mother at Helen's Bake Shop, self-employed working from home, continuing education to re-enter the workforce at Combustion Engineering, Honeywell, and Pratt & Whitney, Dorie worked hard and made the most of every opportunity she was given. With her husband she educated her children on the value of hard work and the importance of saving.

Dorie was a talented singer who ministered to parishioners of the Archdiocese of Hartford as a member of multiple church choirs. As a Parishioner of St. Gabriel Church in Windsor for 43 years, Dorie proudly volunteered as a member of the Good Shepherd Choir providing comfort to many bereaved families in Windsor. Her memory lives on in the hearts of her husband, children, and grandchildren.

In addition to her husband of 57 years, Robert, she is survived by six children, Edward Sopelak and his wife Anne Edmonds Sopelak of Windsor, David Sopelak and his wife JoAnn Tower Sopelak of Enfield, William Sopelak and his wife Sarah of East Haddam, Stephen Sopelak and his wife Debra of Enfield, Lynne Sopelak of Enfield, and James Sopelak and his wife Dawn of Windsor Locks; six grandchildren, Christopher Sopelak and Alexandra Lamparski, Mary Sopelak, Valerie Sopelak, Jonathan Sopelak, Hunter Sopelak, and Logan Sopelak. Dorie also leaves two sisters-in-law, Joanne Zingle and Regina Sullivan; three nieces, Katy Zyra, Laurie Moulton, and Mary Frances LaBianca; a nephew, Michael Sullivan. She was predeceased by her brother, Thomas Zingle.

A Mass of Christian Burial will be held on Monday, July 11, 2016 at 10 a.m. at St. Gabriel Church, 379 Broad St., Windsor. Burial will follow in St. Mary's Cemetery, Windsor Locks. Her family will receive friends from 4-7 p.m. on Sunday at Carmon Funeral Home, 807 Bloomfield Ave., Windsor.

In lieu of flowers, her family kindly requests memorial donations be made to Cancer House of Hope, 1999 Westfield Road, West Springfield, MA 01089, chhinfo@chd.org; Cancer Connection, Inc., 41 Locust Street, Northampton, MA 01060, http://www.cancer-connection.org; and Little Sisters of the Poor, 1365 Enfield St, Enfield, CT 06082, http://www.littlesistersofthepoorconnecticut.org.