John J. Duly

John J. Duly, 98, of New Britain, husband of Jeanette (Zapor) Duly, passed away peacefully on Wednesday, Oct. 23, 2019, with his loving daughters by his side.

Born in New Britain, he was the son of the late Peter and Anna (Hlavati) Dulya.  John grew up in Berlin attending Berlin Schools and the New Britain Trade School. He was a long time New Britain resident.

John was a US Army Veteran of World War II.  He served with the 140 ^th Battalion, Company 3038 Ordinance Base, Auto Maintenance Co.  He hauled marine diesel engines for the 12 ^th Fleet for the invasion, working 12 hour shifts with the armored division that came to England from the African campaign with the signal core.  John trained in Mississippi and Texas, spent 16 months in England, and rebuilt diesel engines (Bay Shop Ordinance).  After the invasion, he served in France, Germany, and Belgium before being honorably discharged as a photographic laboratory technician.

John was employed at Pratt and Whitney for 42 years, retiring in 1983.  John was a member of the Pratt and Whitney Aircraft Golf League, Knights of Columbus, 3 ^rd degree, Council 12, Sokol Gymnastics Society of New Britain, and Holy Trinity Byzantine Catholic Church.  John enjoyed gardening, flowers, polka music and polka dancing.  He loved spending time with his family, especially holiday times at their homes.

Surviving are three daughters, Christine Bratina and her husband Edward of Berlin, Patricia Favara and her husband Fran of Franklin, MA, Maureen Zukowski and her husband Edward of Berlin; six grandchildren and their spouses, Kristyn and Edward Dobbins, Marc and Jennifer Favara, Ken and Sara Bratina, Bryan and Jamie Favara, Erik Zukowski, and Sara Zukowski; four great-grandchildren, Summer Rose Dobbins, Benjamin and Ryan Favara, and Viviana Bratina; and a niece, Ann Riggs.  He was predeceased by two sisters, Anna Schmitt and Helen Gadzik.

Funeral services will be held on Tuesday at 11 AM at the Holy Trinity Byzantine Catholic Church, 121 Beaver St., New Britain.  Burial, with military honors, will be in the Holy Trinity Byzantine Catholic Church Cemetery.  A calling hour will be held on Tuesday morning from 9:30 AM to 10:30 AM at Erickson-Hansen Funeral Home, 411 So. Main St., New Britain.