Gene M. (Piatek) Kiely
MERIDEN - Gene M. (Piatek) Kiely, 82, of Meriden, beloved wife of the late Joseph G. (Bud) Kiely, passed away peacefully with her loving family by her side, Saturday, February 22, following complications from heart surgery. Born May 7, 1931, to the late Andrew and Marion Piatek, Gene resided in Meriden her entire life, attending St. Stanislaus Elementary School and graduating from Meriden High School in 1949. During high school she worked at the Kresge's candy counter in downtown Meriden, where she and a friend coined 'The Kresge's Song.' In 1950, she and Bud were married soon after his honorable discharge from the U.S. Navy. Both Gene and Bud worked many years at New Departure Hyatt in Meriden (later in Bristol), where Bud tended the boilers and Gene ensured the quality of the company's bearings. Working different shifts during much of their tenure there, Gene and Bud raised and supported their 10 children through braces, college and weddings before retiring, respectively, in 1985 and 1987. Her pride in her children always graced her wrist, where she constantly wore her 'Baby Shoe Bracelet,' a charm bracelet that for each child held a silver shoe inscribed with his or her name and birth date. Gene and Bud thoroughly enjoyed their retirement as they made several cross-country trips with Triple-A book in hand, traveled abroad on the Concorde and the QE2, and visited frequently with family and friends. Even after Bud's passing, Gene continued to go on short trips around the state and renewed old acquaintances. Her children will remember her always as a true lover of people and their stories, and a truly devoted mother. Holidays were always happy and festive times at the Kiely household, particularly Christmas Eve, when Gene would entreat everyone to participate in the Oplatki Christmas tradition, sharing a blessing through the breaking and consuming of a large communal wafer. Gene's children enjoy many fond memories of day-long trips to surf the waves at Misquamicut and Sunday, back-yard cook-outs, among many other treasured events and excursions. She loved doing jigsaw puzzles, an occasional dab of Chanel No. 5, and watching Monk on TV. A parishioner of St. Mary Church, Gene was strong in her faith and grateful for the gifts bestowed upon her. Gene is survived by her 10 children and their spouses, Joseph (Buddy) Kiely, Jeanne Kiely and Drew Maciag, Judy Kiely and Philip Rieth, Diane and Kevin Mischke, Marianne (Mimi) and Ed Heath, Thomas and Candace Kiely, Nancy and Bill Bobskill, Kathy Kiely and Robert Perruccio, Robert and Melanie Kiely, Holly and Joe Ludemann; 19 grandchildren; 4 great grandchildren; several nieces and nephews; and sister-in-law Dorothy Piatek. Aside from her husband and parents, she was predeceased by her sisters, Jeanette and her husband Paul Yaworowski, and Mincia Piatek; brothers Adolf and his wife Nellie Piontek, and Joseph, Edward and Alfred Piatek. Relatives and friends are invited to attend a Mass of Christian Burial on Friday, Feb. 28, at 10:30 a.m. at St Mary Church, Church St., Meriden. Burial will follow at Walnut Grove Cemetery, Meriden. Calling hours are from 4 to 8 p.m., Thursday, Feb. 27, at Beecher and Bennett-Flatow Funeral Home, 48 Cook Ave., Meriden. In lieu of flowers, donations in memory of Mrs. Kiely may be made to CurePSP, www.psp.org ,an organization she supported in memory of her husband. Foundation for PSP, 30 E. Padonia Road, Suite 201, Timonium, MD 21093.
Dear Kiely family, Devon, Jacob, and myself just wanted to let you know that you are in our thoughts and prayers. Your mom was a wonderful and loving person and will be terribly missed. We love you all and hope you can feel our arms holding you during thi
Dear the Kiely Family your Mom passed away your family lost wonderful and alway caring Mom is so sad time . I lost too not my customer but my friend . I will miss her so much . Marzenna Jankowska
Dear the Kiely Family…Mrs. Kiely was like a mom to me in my teens-20’s. Always there with a smile and words of encouragement. She will be missed-but now Gene is up there in heaven with her mate for life; Buddy. I will say a prayer for the whole Kiely cl
Dear Tom and Candace, We are so very sorry for your great loss. Having lost both sets of our parents, we do understand how difficult this is. We always remembered your mother as a kind and loving person. I’m sure that she will be greatly missed by all who
Diane, I know that saying a final goodbye to a parent is never easy. However, it’s my hope that memories of the past can bring a smile to your face even in the midst of shedding a tear. She will always be present and it will make her very happy to know th
In memory of your dear Mother, Joe, and your siblings and all their families, she and you are in my thoughts and prayers. What a gift that she lived with such an abundance of love, given and received. Blessings, ongoing love, and peace– Rev. Dr. Jan
Joe, Jeanne, Judy and the entire .Kiely Klan.: I am so sorry to hear of your Mom’s passing. I first met your Mom when I was with Rosie Spinelli and Rosie decided to .drop by. Judy’s house. I got the feeling then that your Mom was used to .drop by’s. and a
To the Kiely family I was very sad to hear of Mrs. Kiely’s passing….and that was how I always addressed her over the many years that I have known her. Every once in a while I would run into her & she always remembered me. We would always have a little c
To the Kiely family, I am very sorry for your loss. I’m your cousin from Massachusetts and I still remember going to your house when we were kids. Both your parents were very nice. Donald J Kiely