John Franek

NAUGATUCK- Mr. John George Franek, 87, of 233 North Hoadley St., Naugatuck, passed away early Sunday evening Jan. 31st, 2010 at the Waterbury Hospital.

Mr. Franek was born in Dolna-Tizina Czechoslovakia, Sept. 10, 1922, a son of the late Imro and Helena (Matusik) Franek and moved to Franklin, NJ and later to Passaic, NJ where he finished High School and then enlisted in the service in 1943. He had been a Naugatuck resident since moving here in 1956. He was a U.S. Army veteran of WW II and following the War, he re-enlisted and made the military his career for over 20 years until his retirement in 1964. He served with the 286th Field Artillery Observation Battalion, 19th Corps with Patton's Third Army, serving as a Staff Sergeant. He later worked for the State of Conn. in the Dept. of Information Technology as a Programmer until his retirement in 1986.

He leaves three sisters, Margaret Cobbol and her husband, John Cobbol, Mary Ann Bridge wife of the late Michael Bridge both of Naugatuck and Helen Ilnicki and her husband Dr. Richard Ilnicki of Dayton, NJ and several nieces and nephews. He was predeceased by two brothers, Joseph and Anthony Franek.

Funeral services will be held on Friday Feb. 5th, 2010 at 11 am at the Alderson Funeral Home of Naugatuck, 201 Meadow St. Burial with full military honors will be in Grove Cemetery, Naugatuck. Friends may call at the funeral home on Thursday Feb. 4th from 6 to 8 pm. and on Friday morning from 10 am until the time of the service. Member of the Naugatuck Veterans council will meet at the funeral home on Thursday evening at 7:15 pm. Burial with full military honors will be in Grove Cemetery, Naugatuck. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the Sailors', Solders', and Marines' Fund, 864 Wethersfield Ave., Hartford, Ct 06114-3184.