Florence Gontarz,

Florence Gontarz, 88, of Berlin, passed away on November 29, 2019 after a period of declining health. Born in Newington, on April 5, 1931, Florence was the daughter of Anthony and Mary Banulski.

Florence grew up in Newington and graduated from Saint Joseph College in West Hartford in 1953 with a degree in Economics and Business.  Also in 1953, Florence married her husband John Gontarz and made their home in Berlin where they raised their family. Over the years, she worked at Traveler’s Insurance, was a bookkeeper for her husband’s floor covering business, secretary for the Adult Education program in Berlin, and a Teacher’s Aide in the Home Economics Department at Berlin High School.

Florence dedicated her life to her family and took pride in being a loving wife, mother, grandmother, great-grandmother, sister and friend. She was a member of the Ladies Guild and the Rosary Makers at St. Paul Church in Kensington and a longtime member of the Ladies of Msgr. Greylish Council #3675 Knights of Columbus, serving in various officer and committee chair positions. For many years, she maintained a special role in helping with the annual Breakfast with Santa sponsored by the Knights. She loved family parties, dancing the polka, playing with the grandchildren, bus trips to the casino and traveling the US by car. She will be remembered with love and affection and missed by her family and friends.

Florence is survived by her five daughters, Ann Gontarz of Southington; Marie (David) Stark of South Windsor; Nancy (Louis) Rague of Hilliard, OH; Patti (Chris) Hilal of Hopewell Junction, NY; and Paula (Rob) Fox of Peterborough, NH; Grandchildren Kari, Bryan, Eric, Casey, Lisa, Andrea, Haley, Adam, Kaleigh and Justin; Great grandchildren, Karissa, Michael, Nathan, Abigail and John; sister Lucy (Leonard) Skinger of Wethersfield and many nieces and nephews. In addition to her husband of 60 years, John, Florence was pre-deceased by her sister and brother-in-law Francis and Joseph Mancino. 

Friends and family are invited to call on Tuesday, December 3, at the Berlin Memorial Funeral Home, 96 Main Street, Kensington from 5 to 7 pm. 

Funeral service will be held on Wednesday, December 4, 2019.
Family and friends may gather at the funeral home at 9 A.M. A Mass of Christian Burial will be held at Saint Paul Church at 10 A.M. in Kensington. Burial will follow in Maple Cemetery on Worthington Ridge, Berlin.

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