Cecelia Kochera

WATERBURY – Cecelia M. Kochera, 94, daughter of the late Benjamin and Cecelia Sheetz passed away peacefully at Waterbury Nursing and Rehab. Center on January 9, 2025 after a long illness.

She was predeceased by her husband George J. Kochera, Sr. and her brothers, Benjamin Sheetz, William Sheetz and James Sheetz.

She is survived by her only son, George J. Kochera, Jr. and his wife, Melissah of Naugatuck; her beloved grandsons, George J. Kochera, III, his wife, Renee, and their children Adeline, Harper and Owen of Oxford, Conn. and Thomas J. Kochera, his wife, Marikate, and their daughter, Emilia of Cheshire, Conn.

She was born on September 29, 1930 in Bristol, Penn., and resided there until 2007 when she and her husband, George, moved to Waterbury to be near their son.

Cecelia attended Bristol High School, graduating in 1949. She worked at Patterson Parchment Paper in Bristol, Penn. where she met her husband George. They married in 1956 and were married for 51 years before his passing.

Her hobbies were sewing and she was an avid reader who loved researching various topics that piqued her interest. Cecelia also enjoyed listening to late-night talk radio as she was quite the night owl.

A funeral service will be held at 5 p.m. on Tuesday, January 14, 2025 at Buckmiller Thurston Mengacci Funeral Home, 82 Fairview Avenue, Naugatuck. Calling hour will be from 4 p.m. to 5 p.m. prior to the service. Burial at St. James Cemetery will be private.

In lieu of flowers and to honor Cecelia’s memory, donations to your local animal shelter would be appreciated.