Eleanor Archacki Butkiewicz

Eleanor M. "Archie" Archacki Butkiewicz, 81, of Kensington, widow of Joseph Butkiewicz, died peacefully on Saturday, Jan. 29, 2011 at Hartford Hospital surrounded by her loving family. Born in New Britain, she was the daughter of the late Stanley and Bertha Staszczak Archacki. She was a Kensington resident since 1955 and was a member of St. Paul Church and the New Britain Music Club. Eleanor was formerly employed as a secretary at Fenn Manufacturing Co. and at the Berlin Town Hall Town Clerk's Office. Everyday was an adventure and there was no time for small complaints. "Archie" grew up playing many sports. During her years of bowling, she served as the secreatary of one of the women's leagues at Berlin Bowl. She also golfed at Timberlin until physical ailments developed. The one sport she continued to enjoy until her untimely death was swimming. She swam three times a week at the Hospital for Special Care. Her love of the water was evident; even teaching her youngest grandson competitive swimming techniques at the age of 75. Eleanor especially looked forward to her time in Westbrook, and swam in the waters of the Sound. She was an avid reader, often being the first to check out novels at the Berlin Free Library. According to Eleanor, life is for living. And everyone who met her experienced her fun-loving nature and infectious spirit. Surviving are two daughters, Lynne Butkiewicz of Kensington and Gail Dwyer and her husband John of Berlin; two brothers, Edward Archacki and his wife Lottie of Bristol, Raymond Archacki and his wife Barbara of New Britain; a sister Irene Jezewski of Rhode Island; three grandchildren, Lauren, Andrew and James Dwyer; a brother-in-law, Ronald Butkiewicz and his wife Helen of West Haven; and several nieces and nephews. In addition to her husband and parents, she was predeceased by three brothers, Walter, Stanley and Henry Archacki. The family would like to thank the staff at the Neurosurgical Trauma Intensive Care Unit at Hartford Hospital for their care and compassion. A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated on Saturday at 10:00 at St. Paul Church. Burial will be at the convenience of the family. Calling hours are Friday from 4-7 PM at Erickson-Hansen Funeral Home, 411 So. Main St., New Britain. Memorial donations may be made to the Berlin Senior Center, 33 Colonial Dr., Berlin, CT 06037 or to the Berlin Free Library 842 Worthington Ridge, Berlin, CT 06037.