Dorothy R. Bazilchuk

Dorothy Reney Bazilchuk, 86, a long-time resident of Norwalk, died Wednesday, July 16, at St. Mary's Hospital in Waterbury CT after a brief illness.

She was born in Worcester, MA on May 18, 1922, the sixth of eight children of Thomas F. and Katherine M. Reney. Her husband of 60 years, William C. Bazilchuk, Sr., predeceased her by just four days. She is survived by two sons; William Bazilchuk Jr. and his wife Fannie Marone of Waterbury CT, and John Bazilchuk of Athens, GA; and by a daughter, Nancy Bazilchuk, her husband G. Richard Strimbeck, and their children, her granddaughters, Molly and Zoe Strimbeck Bazilchuk, all of Trondheim, Norway. She also leaves a brother, Thomas Jr. and his wife Josephine of Worcester, eighteen nieces and nephews, and numerous grand nieces and nephews. She was predeceased by her brothers John, Joseph and Francis of Worcester, MA, and Margaret of Holyoke MA, Katherine of San Diego, CA, and Anne Marie of Holyoke, MA.

Dorothy was a graduate of Wheaton College and worked as a stewardess with National Airlines on the New York-Havana run before meeting and marrying her husband William in 1948. The couple lived briefly in Flushing, NY before purchasing their first home in Norwalk, CT. She was a homemaker for many years but returned to the workforce after her children were teenagers, with employment at Maggie's in Wilton and later Bloomingdale's in Stamford. She was a devout Catholic and a long time member of St. Matthew Church. She was a passionate Boston Red Sox fan who also loved golf, playing bridge and reading. She will be deeply missed.

A memorial mass in honor of her and her husband was celebrated at St. Matthew Church in Norwalk on Thursday, July 17. The couple will be interred Tuesday, July 22 at 1p.m. in St. John's Cemetery at 223 Richards Ave. in Norwalk, CT. Memorial donations may be made to Catholic Charities USA, PO Box 7068, Merrifield, VA, 22116-7068.