M. Julie (Guay) Lukas

Mary J. Lukas, affectionately known as Julie, went to be with the Lord Wednesday evening (Sept. 14, 2016) at the age of 93.  Her loving husband of 55 years, Stanley and their son, Mark, were by her side at home as she passed.  The daughter of the late John and Mary (Woods) Guay, she was born on Oct. 16, 1922 in Fitchburg, MA and raised in Laconia, NH.  Julie was a graduate of St. Elizabeth Hospital School of Nursing in Brighton, MA and went on to earn her Bachelor’s degree in Nursing from Boston College and later her Master’s degree from UCONN in 1976.  During World War II, she was appointed to the rank of Lieutenant in the U.S. Naval Reserves in Sampson, NY.  Stanley was in the service as well during the war and the two attended many reunions together over the years.  Stanley and Julie met at the Newington Ski Club and were married at the Cathedral of St. Joseph in Hartford on Apr. 29, 1961.  Stanley and Julie resided in New Britain for many years before moving to Hebron.  Early on, she worked as an instructor for the Hartford Hospital School of Nursing Practical Nurse program; then went to Tunxis Community College in Farmington to serve as acting Director of Nursing, where she was awarded the Distinguished Service Award.  From Tunxis, Julie went on to the Greater Hartford Community College as an assistant professor with a rating of Superior.  Finally, she worked at Msgr. Bojnowski Manor in New Britain before her retirement.  Every year, Julie and Stanley loved their trips to East Beach in Rhode Island along with their dear friends from New Britain.  She was also active with the Hebron Senior Center.  In addition to her husband and son, she leaves her daughter-in-law, Alisa; four grandchildren, Margaret, Ryan, Kathryn and Colleen; her sister, Nancy Spencer of Portland, OR; as well as extended family members including Mary and Joe Moynihan of Milton, MA; Michael and Ann O’Leary of Tolland and Jerry and Jane Woods of Plymouth, MA. She was predeceased by her brother and sister-in-law Jack and Fran Guay.  The family would like to thank all those who helped through Julie’s lengthy illness, especially her nurse Holly and Lillian Brown of Companions and Homemakers.  Visitation 6 - 8 PM Friday, Sept. 16th at the Aurora-McCarthy Funeral Home, 167 Old Hartford Road, Colchester.  The Funeral Liturgy will be celebrated 10 AM Saturday (Sept. 17th) directly at the Church of the Holy Family, 185 Church St. (Rte. 85), Hebron.  Interment will follow in the Lukasiewicz family plot in Sacred Heart Cemetery, New Britain.  Donations in her memory may be made to Msgr. Bojnowski Manor, 50 Nash St., New Britain 06053.