Victoria "Vickie" F. Wesolowski, 98, of Noank passed away on Friday, March 25, 2016, at Fairview Nursing Home in Groton. She was predeceased by her beloved husband, Joseph J. Wesolowski who died in 1991.
She was born on April 18, 1917 in Waltham Mass., the daughter of Jakub and Franciska (Szadziewicz) Antoniewicz. Tragically, her mother died in the 1918 flu epidemic; however her father remarried 3 years later. She graduated from high school in Waltham and then moved to Taftville CT where she worked as a textile designer at the Sirtex Company in Old Mystic, then as a velvet weaver at Rossi Velvet Co in Mystic and retired from American Velvet Co. in Stonington CT. She was a very accomplished seamstress, making her own clothes, as well as clothing for her family and all her curtains and slipcovers. She was a creative sewer, almost never using patterns; just following a picture or sketch to make a beautiful perfectly fitting outfit for herself or her daughter, husband, son or friends.
She and her husband, Joseph and with the help of their son James owned and operated Wesolowski's Christmas Tree Farm on Lantern Hill Road in Old Mystic for 35 years where they planted, maintained and sold Christmas trees. Vickie made and sold beautiful Christmas wreaths at the farm. Victoria and Joseph built two summer "Lake Houses"; the first in North Stonington and the second on Belgrade Lake in Belgrade Lakes, Maine where the family spent many happy vacations.
She was proud of her Lithuanian heritage, and spoke Lithuanian and Polish fluently. She was a strong-willed, persistent, determined, single-minded woman; these traits served her well for most of her life helping her to bounce back from many difficult times. She was a devout Roman Catholic, worshipping at St. Patrick Church in Mystic, later at St. Thomas More Church in North Stonington, and finally, with visiting laypersons from St Mary Mother of the Redeemer of Groton.
She is survived by her children, son James Wesolowski and his wife Lori of Lebanon CT and daughter Katherine Borkowski and her husband Edward of Cranston RI. There are 6 grandchildren: Alex and Adam Wesolowski, Jacqueline Duckworth, Marsha Shea, Julie Peterson-Sylvia, and Karen Peterson-Dagnall, and 4 great grandchildren. She is also survived by her sister, Albina Janovicz of Manchester CT.
In addition to her husband and parents, she is predeceased by her brother, Jake Anthony, of Plymouth, MA, who died 4 years ago.
A Funeral Mass will be celebrated on Wednesday, March 30, at 10:00am at St. Mary Mother of the Redeemer Church, 69 Groton Long Point Road, Groton. Burial will follow in St. Patrick Cemetery, River Road, Old Mystic. There are no visiting hours.
In lieu of flowers, donations in her memory may be made to Fairview Nursing Home, 235 Lestertown Road, Groton, CT. 06340-7478.
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