Jean Mocarski died on Dec. 17 at Miles Memorial Hospital in Damariscotta after a brief illness.
Jean was born in Poland on June 27, 1914. She had two older sisters, Stacia and Edna, both of whom predeceased her. Her mother died when she was two years old, and her maternal grandparents raised her in Poland. She always expressed a special fondness for her grandfather.
Jean came to the U.S. at age 15 with her older sister, Edna, and worked as a domestic and factory worker in Stamford, Conn. She married Lawrence Mocarski when she was 18 years old, and they lived in Stamford their entire married life until Larry died in 2004 at the age of 96. They had four sons: Lawrence Jr., Alexander, Joseph and Daniel. Her eldest son, Larry, died in 1943 at the age of 11.
Strong-willed, intelligent and devoted to her family are words that describe Jean well. She maintained a home, provided for her sons to go to college and found more satisfaction in giving than receiving. She was also devoted to her church. For many years she was an active member of Holy Name Church in Stamford, Conn. A member of the Rosary society, she was recognized as “Mother of the Year” by the parish.
She enjoyed cooking creatively for her family and church gatherings, most memorably and traditionally at Polish Catholic holidays such as Easter and Christmas Eve. She also enjoyed sewing, knitting, crocheting, gardening, and feeding the birds and any other animals lucky enough to enter her backyard. She has been a wonderful companion to numerous dogs and most recently a cat, Kitty, who now resides in Maine.
After health problems made it increasingly difficult for her to maintain her independence, she moved to Maine where her son, Dan, resides. For the past few years, she has lived at Hodgdon Green, an assisted living home in Damariscotta, where she received loving care and which she came to consider her home.
She is survived by sons, Alexander of West Haven, Conn., Joseph of Madison, Conn., and Daniel and wife Claire of Chamberlain; daughter-in-law, Elizabeth Mocarski of Stamford, Conn.; 10 grandchildren; and six great-grandchildren, all of whom were very special to her and provided many moments of joy in her life.
Burial services 11 a.m., Sat., Dec. 22 in Stamford, Conn.
In her memory a donation may be sent to Hodgdon Green Assisted Living, 6 Hodgdon St., Damariscotta, ME, 04543.
Condolences, and messages for the family, may be expressed by visiting www.StrongHancock.com.
