Matthew R. Duksa Sr.

DUKSA, Matthew R., Sr. Matthew R. Duksa, Sr., 80, of Newington, died suddenly at his home on Thursday, (November 28, 2002), after spending Thanksgiving with his family. He was the beloved husband and very best friend of Dorothy (Kania) Duksa, with whom he celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary on November 22. Son of the late Joseph and Frances (Smoron) Duksa, he was born and raised on the family's dairy farm, Oak Bluff Farm, on West St. in Southington and he was a Newington resident since 1952. Matt graduated from Lewis High School and attended Cheshire Academy, and Connecticut College of Commerce, New Haven. He graduated Magna Cum Laude, from the McAllister School of Embalming, New York City, where he received his Mortuary Science Degree. In 1949, he became a partner with Borawski-Duksa Funeral Home, now Burritt Hill Funeral Home, in New Britain, where he continued to operate the funeral home with Stanley H. Borawski until his death in 1993. In 1952, he established the Newington Memorial Funeral Home, presently in its 50th year. Matt was currently President of both funeral homes and remained actively involved in his family business along with his wife and children, all licensed funeral directors. His funeral homes were recently honored by the University of Connecticut Family Business Program as a 2002 Connecticut Family Business of the Year. His kind and gentle manner was evident in so many ways, especially when caring for families he served throughout the years. Matt was a member of St. Mary's Church, Newington, and Holy Cross Church and its Holy Name Society, and Sacred Heart Church and its Holy Name Society, both of New Britain. He was a former member of the Newington Volunteer Fire Dept. Co. No. 1 for 16 years and a member of the Newington Veteran Firemen's Association. He was a Director of the Newington Volunteer Ambulance Corps for many years. Matt was Chairman of the West Meadow Cemetery Building Committee Phase I, and a member of the West Meadow Cemetery Expansion Committee. He was also a member of the Newington Knights of Columbus Council No. 3884, 3rd and 4th Degree, the Polish American Club of Newington, and a former member of the Newington Kiwanis Club. He was a Director of the Peoples Savings Bank of New Britain (now Webster Bank) for many years and was a Corporator of New Britain General Hospital. Mattie was a longtime member of the 44 Club and served as co-chairman of annual scholarship Game Dinners and was an active member and chairman of its Pine Cone Scholarship Committee. In 1997, he received the Newington Chamber of Commerce Business Person of the Year. He was a member of the Polish Professional Businessmen's Association and a former member of Falcons Nest No. 88 and the Polish National Alliance. He enjoyed saltwater fishing, trapping lobsters, clamming and scalloping in Martha's Vineyard, fly fishing locally and for salmon on the Miramichi River, New Brunswick, Canada with his son Matt. He was a member of the Atlantic Salmon Federation, the Connecticut River Salmon Association, the New England Salmon Association and the Miramichi Salmon Association of New Brunswick, Canada. He was a member of the Coventry Fish and Game Club, the Bell City Fish and Game Club of East Hampton, and a former member of the Limestone Trout Club, East Canaan. He was a member of Shuttle Meadow Country Club, Kensington, and a former member of the Indian Hill Country Club, Newington, for 26 years. Matt was a longtime member of the YMCA Health Club, New Britain, where he played racquetball. He was a member of the Connecticut Funeral Directors Association, the National Funeral Directors Association, and Selected Independent Funeral Directors. He was the most devoted and loving husband, father and grandfather, and along with his wife, Dottie, he leaves his daughter and son-in-law, Diana and Jim Kurz, his son and daughter-in-law, Matthew R. Duksa, Jr., and his wife Lisa, and his four adoring grandchildren, Jim and Kristy Kurz and Johanna and Jacqueline Duksa, all of Newington. He also leaves his sister, Helen Jankowski, and his brother and sister-in-law, Zigmon and Clara Duksa, all of Southington; his sister-in-law, Anna Duksa of West Hartford; his mother-in-law, Anna Kania of Southington; and many nieces and nephews. He was pre-deceased by his brother and sister-in-law, Joseph and Emma Duksa, his brother, Dr. Walter J. Duksa, and his brother-in-law, Joseph Jankowski. He will be sadly missed by all who knew him and couldn't help but love him for his integrity, his twinkling blue eyes, his contagious sense of humor, his endless curiosity, and his love for life. His funeral service will be Wednesday, 9 a.m., from the Newington Memorial Funeral Home, 20 Bonair Ave., Newington, followed by a Mass of Christian Burial at 10 a.m. at St. Mary's Church, 626 Willard Ave., Newington. Interment will be in West Meadow Cemetery, Newington. Relatives and friends are invited to call on Tuesday from 3-8 p.m. at Newington Memorial. Memorial donations may be made to the Newington Volunteer Ambulance Corps, P.O. Box 310061, Newington, CT 06131. To share a memory with the family, please visit us at www.newingtonmemorial.com.