Carolyn Kokoska

Carolyn F. Kokoska of Willimantic passed away on Saturday, October 6 at Hartford Hospital after a brief residence at Avon Health Center. She was born on February 10, 1933 in New Haven, the youngest daughter of the late Michael and Florence (Breen) McKeon of West Haven. Carolyn was a 1951 Graduate of West Haven High School and she received her nursing degree from the Hospital of Saint Raphael in 1953 and a Bachelor of Science from Eastern Connecticut State University in 1985. Carolyn began her career as a surgical nurse and married her beloved husband Stan Kokoska in 1956 upon his discharge from U.S. army. The couple moved to eastern Connecticut when Stan enrolled at UConn under the GI bill. Carolyn worked as a nurse at Windham Hospital, leaving to raise their four children. She became active in local women's organizations while Stan served his term as mayor of Willimantic in 1969. She returned to her career in 1980 as a school nurse and was well loved by a generation of children at Sweeney School, collecting clothing to keep them warm and feeding them cereal when they were hungry. She was a devoted and loving grandmother to her four grandchildren, faithfully attending their athletic events and visiting often.  In her later years Carolyn enjoyed travelling in Europe with her sister Therese McKeon of Manchester and dining in restaurants in Connecticut with her group of retired friends from the Windham school system. She enjoyed her Friday night bingo at her beloved St. Joseph church where she served as a volunteer for many years.  During her last years, Carolyn inspired all who knew her as she courageously fought her physical challenges, continuing to go out with her walker and wheelchair for as long as she was able; her zest for life to the end was memorable to us all.  Carolyn is predeceased by her husband Stanley R. Kokoska; her youngest son Ethan Kokoska; her two sisters, Margaret Whiteman of West Yarmouth, Massachusetts and Therese McKeon of Manchester; and a nephew, Rory Whiteman of West Yarmouth.  She is survived by her daughter, Stephanie Duchesneau of Farmington; sons Richard Kokoska of Willimantic and Thomas Kokoska of New Haven; grandchildren Claire and Sophie Kokoska, Kirk Duchesneau, and Cory Duchesneau and his wife Kourtney Spaulding of Oxford, Ohio. She also leaves nieces Carole Van Bree of Florida, Laurie Whiteman of Virginia, Diane Moudouris and husband Georgis of West Yarmouth, and numerous grandnieces and grandnephews.

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