Eleanor P. (Mangine) Wilkas

Eleanor P. (Mangine) Wilkas 1935 - 2018 Wolcott, CT Eleanor P. (Mangine) Wilkas, 83, the widow of James A. Wilkas, died peacefully on December 20, 2018 in the VITAS Innovative Care Unit at St. Mary’s Hospital, with loving family by her side. Eleanor was born on August 6, 1935 and raised in Naugatuck, the daughter of the late Domenic and Angeline Mangine. She was a Naugatuck High School graduate, and in 1995, retired from the Naugatuck Town Hall as Assistant Assessor. Eleanor was a kind, loving, compassionate woman, loved by all and was a devoted wife, loving mother, sister, grandmother, aunt, and friend to all who knew her. Eleanor spent many years caring for her family and husband Jim, who fell ill due to heart issues. Mom was a devoted nurse to her husband for many years, truly showing her compassion and love for him. She did consider nursing early on as her career, but met Jim, fell in love, and started their family. Her devotion to her family took precedence over all. Eleanor’s best friend was her sister Loretta. Their time spent together was filled with laughter and love, sharing wonderful stories about their beautiful families. Eleanor had the honor of being cared for, over the past few years during recuperation after heart surgery and two strokes, by Rosa, Nancy, and her most recent and last aide, Linda P. Linda and Mom became good friends. Their conversations back and forth were sometimes a bit of a comedy sketch. Linda took Mom’s care very seriously, always attentive to assure Mom was safe. Eleanor lived the last five years of her life in Wolcott with her daughter Marilee and her husband Christopher. Christopher’s culinary expertise in Italian cuisine made her very happy indeed. Marilee devoted herself to Eleanor’s care and daily routines and provided the best quality of life for her. Eleanor was very happy and content. Eleanor’s care was also shared by her daughter Sandra. Eleanor would stay over Sandra and Tom’s house in Watertown and enjoy Sandra’s cooking, along with Tom Hill III’s entertaining personality. With a suite devoted entirely to Eleanor, she was treated like a queen there as well. Eleanor will be missed by everyone whose life she touched with her amazing spirit and unconditional love. Eleanor is survived by her sons, James A. Wilkas of Thomaston and Thomas J. Wilkas of New Preston; her daughters, Sandra Hill and her husband, Thomas A. Hill, III of Watertown and Marilee Wilkas-Ciarlo and her husband, Christopher Ciarlo of Wolcott; her grandson, Daniel Wilkas and his wife, Nathalie Wilkas of Panama City, FL; her sister, Loretta Loyer; her brother, Joseph Mangine and several nieces and nephews. In addition to her husband and her parents, Eleanor was predeceased by her brother, Leonard Mangine, her daughter in law, Maureen Norris-Wilkas, her brother in law, Ronald Loyer and her sisters in law, Gwendolyn Mangine and Theresa Mangine. Funeral Services will be Thursday at 12:30pm at the Buckmiller Thurston Mengacci Funeral Home, 82 Fairview Avenue, Naugatuck. Burial will follow in St. James Cemetery. Calling hours are Thursday from 10:30am to 12:30pm. To honor Eleanor's memory, contributions can be made to St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, 501 St. Jude Place, Memphis, TN 38105.