Obituary for Marjorie Oelkuct (Draper)
Their love story was like a fairytale, they were inseparable, even at the end.
Marjorie Rose Oelkuct, 92, passed away peacefully at home on January 14 with her husband lying lovingly at her side, holding her hand.
A few days later, Marjorie's husband, Edward Howard Oelkuct, 96, died on January 17 while being kept comfortable at UCONN Medical Center in Farmington, CT.
The last words spoken to his one remaining son were “I had a wonderful 96 years of life, 71 with my best friend, loving wife and beautiful family, and now it’s time for this old goat to go be with your Mom.” About 7 am, three days after we lost our Mom we all got the call that our Dad had passed.
Despite losing both parents within a few days, we are all comforted by the fact they passed so close together. Our Dad would not have wanted to go on without our Mom, so it was a blessing.
Marjorie Rose Oelkuct was born November 16, 1929, in Meriden CT. Before meeting Ed, Marge worked at International Silver Company and later worked at Holly Hill Convalescent Home and High Meadow Country Club. Her favorite job was taking care of her nine children in the home her husband had built.
Edward Howard Oelkuct was born April 16, 1925, in Bloomfield CT. He started working early in life on his family’s chicken farm, where he raised and tended to thousands of chickens. During times of hardship Ed would often travel to the Simsbury Town Center and freely distribute some of the chickens he had raised, to help feed the hungry. Ed also worked for Orkil Farms, Heublein, Royal Typewriter, Salters Express, as a Volunteer Policeman and finally, as Postmaster for the Simsbury Postal Service where he continued working until his retirement.
As kids, Marge and Ed survived many hardships and on one New Year’s Eve at a small diner in Meriden, CT, Marge and Ed’s 71 years of fairytale life together began when Marge remarked to her friend, Ed’s sister, “what a handsome brother.” Shortly thereafter on May 6, 1950, they were married at St. Rose of Lima Church in Meriden, CT.
With a lot of hard work and devotion, Ed and Marge built a beautiful life together. They resided and raised their nine children in the home Ed, his father and brother built in Simsbury, CT in 1956. Although this 3-bedroom, one-bathroom home was small, it was full of so much joy, love and laughter, especially when we were all together. Dad would tell his silly jokes and Mom would give a sassy speech and you just felt so happy and so loved. Even when their health started failing, they still got up every day and managed to laugh and enjoy time with each other and their family. Their strength was amazing, two resilient parents who inspired us all, as no matter what the obstacles were, their perseverance always prevailed.
Dad's Hobbies: Raising prize winning chickens, of which pictures and awards are on display at the Simsbury Historical Society, gardening, fixing things, boating, fishing, wine making and being an awesome Dad.
Moms Hobbies: Raising a lot of kids, eating chocolate, dancing to country music, listening attentively to our stories, tanning in the backyard and being an awesome Mom.
Mom affectionately loved teasing Dad, nicknaming him “Dummy”, and being sassy. She would often say, “We’ve been married for 71 loooooonnngggg looooong yeeeeaaaars.”
Dad had a lifelong battle with the squirrels who constantly visited his backyard bird feeders. He found great humor when his children would send squirrel birthday cards and presents.
Marge is survived by her loving sister, Lorraine Anziano.
Ed and Marge are preceded in death by children: Ronald Oelkuct, Edward Oelkuct, Richard Oelkuct, and Donna Barr.
They are survived by daughters, Marjorie Beaulieu, husband Steve; Karen Schyns, husband Roger; Kathy Shattuck, husband Michael; Diane Oelkuct, partner Ed; Robin Littlefield, husband Robert; Lori Hepburn, husband Larry and their son Mark Oelkuct, wife Regina.
Ed and Marge also leave behind sixteen grandchildren and their spouses, and twelve great grandchildren.
Our Mom and Dad, Nana and Grandpa and Great Nana and Great Grandpa were one of a kind and very, very strong. Everyone who met them loved their kindness and commitment to each other and to their large family.
There will be a private funeral service in the Spring.
Marjorie Rose Oelkuct, 92, passed away peacefully at home on January 14 with her husband lying lovingly at her side, holding her hand.
A few days later, Marjorie's husband, Edward Howard Oelkuct, 96, died on January 17 while being kept comfortable at UCONN Medical Center in Farmington, CT.
The last words spoken to his one remaining son were “I had a wonderful 96 years of life, 71 with my best friend, loving wife and beautiful family, and now it’s time for this old goat to go be with your Mom.” About 7 am, three days after we lost our Mom we all got the call that our Dad had passed.
Despite losing both parents within a few days, we are all comforted by the fact they passed so close together. Our Dad would not have wanted to go on without our Mom, so it was a blessing.
Marjorie Rose Oelkuct was born November 16, 1929, in Meriden CT. Before meeting Ed, Marge worked at International Silver Company and later worked at Holly Hill Convalescent Home and High Meadow Country Club. Her favorite job was taking care of her nine children in the home her husband had built.
Edward Howard Oelkuct was born April 16, 1925, in Bloomfield CT. He started working early in life on his family’s chicken farm, where he raised and tended to thousands of chickens. During times of hardship Ed would often travel to the Simsbury Town Center and freely distribute some of the chickens he had raised, to help feed the hungry. Ed also worked for Orkil Farms, Heublein, Royal Typewriter, Salters Express, as a Volunteer Policeman and finally, as Postmaster for the Simsbury Postal Service where he continued working until his retirement.
As kids, Marge and Ed survived many hardships and on one New Year’s Eve at a small diner in Meriden, CT, Marge and Ed’s 71 years of fairytale life together began when Marge remarked to her friend, Ed’s sister, “what a handsome brother.” Shortly thereafter on May 6, 1950, they were married at St. Rose of Lima Church in Meriden, CT.
With a lot of hard work and devotion, Ed and Marge built a beautiful life together. They resided and raised their nine children in the home Ed, his father and brother built in Simsbury, CT in 1956. Although this 3-bedroom, one-bathroom home was small, it was full of so much joy, love and laughter, especially when we were all together. Dad would tell his silly jokes and Mom would give a sassy speech and you just felt so happy and so loved. Even when their health started failing, they still got up every day and managed to laugh and enjoy time with each other and their family. Their strength was amazing, two resilient parents who inspired us all, as no matter what the obstacles were, their perseverance always prevailed.
Dad's Hobbies: Raising prize winning chickens, of which pictures and awards are on display at the Simsbury Historical Society, gardening, fixing things, boating, fishing, wine making and being an awesome Dad.
Moms Hobbies: Raising a lot of kids, eating chocolate, dancing to country music, listening attentively to our stories, tanning in the backyard and being an awesome Mom.
Mom affectionately loved teasing Dad, nicknaming him “Dummy”, and being sassy. She would often say, “We’ve been married for 71 loooooonnngggg looooong yeeeeaaaars.”
Dad had a lifelong battle with the squirrels who constantly visited his backyard bird feeders. He found great humor when his children would send squirrel birthday cards and presents.
Marge is survived by her loving sister, Lorraine Anziano.
Ed and Marge are preceded in death by children: Ronald Oelkuct, Edward Oelkuct, Richard Oelkuct, and Donna Barr.
They are survived by daughters, Marjorie Beaulieu, husband Steve; Karen Schyns, husband Roger; Kathy Shattuck, husband Michael; Diane Oelkuct, partner Ed; Robin Littlefield, husband Robert; Lori Hepburn, husband Larry and their son Mark Oelkuct, wife Regina.
Ed and Marge also leave behind sixteen grandchildren and their spouses, and twelve great grandchildren.
Our Mom and Dad, Nana and Grandpa and Great Nana and Great Grandpa were one of a kind and very, very strong. Everyone who met them loved their kindness and commitment to each other and to their large family.
There will be a private funeral service in the Spring.