Carol L. Starkey, 78, unexpectedly but peacefully entered into eternal rest on December 18, 2015, in her home. She was the beloved wife of the late James L. Starkey III and Edward T. Bielaska and devoted mother to her two children.
Mrs. Starkey was born in Derby on August 17, 1937, daughter of the late Stephen and Louise Ramanauskas Biggs.
A proud lifelong resident of Ansonia and graduate of Ansonia High School, she performed years of volunteer service as a secretary at the former St. Joseph’s School in Ansonia which her children attended and was also employed at Ansonia City Hall as a secretary for former mayors Thomas Clifford and Thomas Hallihan until her retirement.
Carol was active in the Boy Scouts of America with Cub Scouts Pack 7 at Holy Rosary Church in Ansonia and was also extremely devoted to animal causes and very active in support of funding for mental health, particularly for the indigent. She was also a pianist and enjoyed music tremendously and was the music librarian for the Stratford Symphony Orchestra for several years.
Most of all, however, she enjoyed spending time with her family and supporting her children and grandchildren in their various endeavors.
She is survived by a son, Commander James L. Starkey IV, United States Forest Service and his wife Elizabeth of Lilburn, GA, a daughter, Mary G. Bielaska of La Jolla, CA, owner of Zanicorn International, Ltd., in San Diego and New York City, who is also a senior officer in the Animal Rescue Reserve for the San Diego Humane Society; a brother, Ronald S. Biggs and his wife Maureen of Wallingford; cherished grandchildren, James L. Starkey V and 2LT Joshua L. Starkey, United States Army both of Lilburn, GA, Alexandra Rosalyn Whiting, a student in the aerospace engineering program at Princeton University, NJ where she is on the women’s soccer team and part of the Army ROTC program and Charles Spencer Whiting III of Mammoth Lakes, CA, a professional snowboarder and business major at Pennsylvania State University’s Word Campus, as well as several cousins, nieces and nephews and numerous lifetime friends in the Valley community.
Relatives and friends are invited to attend her funeral on Tuesday December 22, 2015, at 10:00 am at Holy Rosary Church in Ansonia for a Mass of Christian Burial. Interment will immediately follow in Mt. St. Peter Cemetery in Derby. Visiting will take place on TUESDAY MORNING from 8:00 am until the procession leaves for church. Visitation will be held in the chapel of the SPINELLI-RICCIUTI/BEDNAR-OSIECKI FUNERAL HOME, 62 Beaver Street in Ansonia.
In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to the Ansonia Animal Shelter, 2 Elm Street, Ansonia, CT 06401. To send an act of sympathy, please visit www.spinelliricciutifh.com.