Jadwiga (Olenkiewicz)“Hattie” Pillo, age 97, of Milford, CT, beloved wife of the late Joseph C. Pillo, Jr. for over 67 years, died on Sunday, January 10, 2016. Mrs. Pillo was born in Norwich, CT on August 11, 1918 to the late Pelagia Suchwalko and Leon Olenkiewicz. Hattie enjoyed a full, well rounded life; she even won a beauty contest as Queen of the Winter Sports Special, Central Vermont Railway, in Brattleboro, Vermont in February, 1934. Her interests led her to try many different jobs. During WWII, she worked at the New York Post Office, at Remington Arms and also on propellers at Hamilton Standard. She had a passion for making hats and was a skilled seamstress. She was a member of the Milford Senior Center since 1977 with her husband and also served a year as President of Club C. Hattie enjoyed the activities at the Center, the trips she took, the dances attended and the people there. She loved playing Bingo, going to the casino, dancing with her husband, cooking, baking, sharing and taking care of her animals- her backyard birds and cat, Jiggers. She always felt that her greatest job was being a mom and her greatest gift was her family. She would always say that to get together with a bit of good food, a bit of drink, and a bit of laughter was the best thing that we could give each other. She was a warm and loving person to her children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren. She will be remembered for her strong faith in God and her kind and caring ways. Survivors include her children: Donald J. Pillo of Milford, Pamela Skudlarek (Stephen 'Jack') of Milford and John C. Pillo (Jean) of Woodstock, CT, seven grandchildren; Brian (Sandy) Pillo, Joseph Pillo (Katina Marone), Sheryl (Seth) Cohen and Darren Pillo (Vicky), Stephen Skudlarek III, and Joshua (fiancé Kasey) and Jacqueline Pillo, eight great-grandchildren: Ella, Tessie, Sophie and Eve Cohen, Cameron, Boden, Nash and Logan Pillo. Hattie is pre-deceased by her special nephew, Tommy L. Brown Jr. and by her brothers, John and Edward Olenkiewicz and sisters, Anna Brown, Tosha Basson and Helen Machowski. Friends and family may call on Wednesday night from 4:00 p.m.-7:00 p.m. in The Gregory F. Doyle Funeral Home, 291 Bridgeport Avenue, Milford. Friends are invited to attend a Mass of Christian Burial on Thursday morning DIRECTLY in St. Mary's Church at 12:00PM. Interment will follow in St. Mary Cemetery, Milford. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Milford Senior Center, 9 Jepson Drive,
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