Connie Joan Klanica

CHESHIRE - Connie (Sienkowski) Klanica, 55, beloved wife of Brian Klanica, passed away unexpectedly at home on Friday, June 1, 2018. Connie was born in Waterbury, CT, on February 21, 1963. She was the loving daughter of Patricia (Vitagliano) Sienkowski and the late Thomas Sienkowski and was predeceased by her brother Gerald Sienkowski. Connie was a lifelong resident of Cheshire, CT, graduating from Cheshire High School in 1982 and receiving her associates degree in Fashion Merchandising from Briarwood College in 1984. Connie was employed for several years by Barker Specialty Company in Cheshire and most recently worked in interior design at PJ & Co. Staging.

Connie and her husband Brian were high school sweethearts, marrying on July 12th, 1986, and spending 32 wonderful years together. Connie was a devoted mom to her two sons, Justin and Ben, faithfully attending every football, hockey, rugby, and baseball game, enthusiastically cheering them on. She had three “best friends” –her sister Andrea Holsworth, Kelly Suplinskas, and Donna Toomey—and many other friends who were blessed to have known her as well. She is survived by her brother Thomas Sienkowski and wife Nancy (Simpson) Sienkowski, her sister Andrea (Sienkowski) Holsworth and husband Ted Holsworth; her sister-in-law Susan (Klanica) Piqueira and husband Philip Piqueira; her brother-in-law David Klanica and wife Bonnie (Minck) Klanica; her sister-in-law Barbara (Klanica) Banning and husband Philip Banning; her sister-in-law Amy (Klanica) Lurz and husband Louis Lurz. She also leaves behind her mother-in-law Peggy Klanica and the late Andrew Klanica, ten nieces and six nephews, and seven great-nieces and six great-nephews.

Connie was an exceptionally kind and sensitive person and was always about the other person rather than herself. Her favorite color was purple and any text or email to her sons or friends often ended with a purple heart emoji. Connie had a great sense of design, as seen in her beautifully decorated home, and was a gracious hostess, always making everyone feel welcome and cared for. Her creativity was often expressed in her writing, including beautiful poems that she would write for family members and friends.

Her leaving has broken the hearts of all who loved her, but everyone is holding onto the belief that they will see her again one day. She loved angels while she was on earth and now she is one herself.

Funeral services will be held on Thursday, June 7, 2018, 9:15 am from the Alderson-Ford Funeral Home of Cheshire at 615 S. Main Street to St. Bridget Church for a Mass of Christian Burial at 10 a.m. Burial will follow at St. Bridget Cemetery. Visitation will be held on Wednesday, June 6th, from 4:30 to 7:30 p.m. at the funeral home. Memorial donations in Connie’s memory may be made to either the CT Children’s Medical Center Foundation at give.connecticutchildrens.org/tribute or to the National Alliance on Mental Illness at nami.org. For messages and online condolences, please visit www.fordfh.com.