Bernard Petkus

Bernard "Jerry" Petkus, 96, formerly of Boylston, passed away, January 1, 2010 at Beaumont of Westborough. His wife, Olga (Taylor) Petkus, predeceased him in 1986. Bernie is survived by a son, Bernard J. Petkus and his wife, Laurel, of Hudson, MA; a daughter Eileen C. Curless and her husband, Charles V. Curless of Granby, CO; his grandchildren, Tammy Plant and Tina Donahue both in MA, Staff Sgt Jason Petkus in NJ, Sean Curless in CO, and Kimberly Rivers in WA; eleven great grandchildren; a niece and nephew. He was predeceased by two grandsons, Timothy Petkus and Christopher Curless. Born in Simkaiciai Stulgai Lithuania on April 15, 1913, he came to America in 1929 with his mother and joined his father in Worcester. He became a citizen of the United States of America in 1939. He lived in Worcester for thirty two years, before moving to Boylston, where he lived for forty five years, then moving to Whitney Place in Westborough in 2006. Mr. Petkus worked at the Worcester Foundry for forty-six years, retiring in 1976. He served his new nation in the Massachusetts State Guard, and was discharged in 1946. He was a member of the State Guard Veterans through 1986. He was a member of the senior bowling league at Town & Country in Shrewsbury and Auburn, where he continued to bowl until he was ninety-one. He was also a member of the Lithuanian Naturalization Club. A calling hour for Bernie will be held Friday morning, January 8 from 10 a.m. until 11 a.m. in MERCADANTE FUNERAL HOME & CHAPEL, 370 Plantation Street, Worcester, with a Funeral Service at 11 a.m. in the funeral home. Following cremation, his interment will be held at the convenience of the family in Notre Dame Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in Bernie's name to the charity of one's choice.