Clara Bryk

Clara Anna (Strunk) Bryk
“Mother, grandmother, had 13 great grandchildren”


Naugatuck, CT Clara Anna (Strunk) Bryk, 85, died September 14, 2023 at Mid-State Medical Hospice after a long battle with COPD.

Clara was born January 9, 1938 in East Stroudsburg, PA a daughter of the late James Beaver and Emma Strunk. She graduated from East Stroudsburg High School, Class of 1956 and was also a graduate of the Connecticut School of Massage Therapy.
Clara worked at several places over the years to help support her family, including manufacturing, retail, home healthcare, healthcare and most recently, until her illness, as a Licensed Massage Therapist.

Early in her parenting life she attended many sporting and social events following her children. Clara loved to dance and she enjoyed her family, especially her grandchildren and great grandchildren. She looked forward to summer vacations back home with family in East Stroudsburg. She enjoyed crossword puzzles, word search games, Dunkin Donuts coffee, Ben & Jerry’s Karmel Sutra ice cream, the Doobie Brothers concerts with her son and family and holidays with her family, cooking up a storm.

Clara always put her family first, right up until the end. A 27 year cancer survivor, she had a Laryngectomy back in 1996. She spent the last 4 years at the Hospital for Special Care in New Britain, CT on a ventilator and still found time to laugh and put her family first.

Clara’s family would like to extend their thanks to the Staff of Hospital for Special Care and Mid-State Medical Hospice for keeping Mom comfortable. Clara will be remembered by many as she touched so many people.

Clara is survived by her son, Thomas Bryk; her son and daughter in law, Craig Bryk and Robin Ashley; daughter and son in law, L. Michelle “Mimi” and John Capozziello; her former husband and friend, Michael Bryk; her brothers and sisters in law, George and Linda Klein, Paul and Maryellen Klein, Donald and Brenda Klein; her sisters and brothers in law, Marjorie and William Zeiss, Josephine and William Horst; her granddaughters, Amiee Bryk Granger and Husband Curt, Tiffani Capozziello, Clarissa Bryk and partner Curtis Nobore, and Kassandra Bryk; grandsons, Craig Bryk, Jr.; John Capozziello and his wife, Destiny; her great grandchildren, Angeleena, Curtis, Carlie, Zoey and Eli Granger, Julius and Xander Nobore, Arianna and Kaiden Capozziello, Ava, Ella, Julia and Noah Capozziello; her cousin, Shirley Kalwaytis; her special friends, Maryanne Bartley, Sharina Shivers, Paulette Francis, Marilin Rosario, Kim Williams, Jake Miller, Betty Shupe and many nieces, nephews and friends. In addition to her parents, Clara was predeceased by her grandfather, Emmanuel Strunk and friend Janet Miller.

Calling hours will be Monday, September 25, 2023 from 9:30am to 11:00am at the Buckmiller Thurston Mengacci Funeral Home, 82 Fairview Avenue, Naugatuck. A graveside service will follow at 11:30am at St. James Cemetery, Cross Street, Naugatuck. In lieu of flowers and to honor Clara’s memory, the family requests donations to Hospital for Special Care Foundation, 2150 Corbin Avenue, New Britain, CT 06053 or online at https://hfsc.org/donation/.