Obituaries
Serving Our Community Since 1951
Obituary for Thomas A. Fennell, Jr.
Thomas Anthony Fennell, Jr., age 74, beloved husband  to high school sweetheart Barbara Collins Fennell for 51 years, entered into eternal peace on October 21, 2015 at home with his wife by his side.  He was the son of the late Thomas A. and Louisa (Norman) Fennell and was born on December 12, 1940 in Bridgeport, CT.
Tom was a graduate of the first class of St. James School, Stratford High School and the Naval Air Technical Training Command in Memphis, Tennessee. Â He proudly served in the United States Navy aboard the USS Wasp and the USS Coral Sea from 1959 to 1962. Â He loved his choice of careers as firefighter with the Stratford Fire Department where he was employed for thirty-six years. Â Previously, he was employed by Sikorsky Aircraft, Avco Lycoming Army Engine Plant and Connecticut State Oil.
Fishing on Long Island Sound on his Boat the "Four Sons" with his sons, family and friends was his ultimate pleasure trying to catch "The Big One."  Volunteering twenty-two years for the Arthur C.Luf Children's Burn Camp for children recovering from burn injuries was near and dear to his heart.  Family vacations camping for seventeen years with firefighters and families and cruises to Alaska, the Caribbean, Bahamas and Nova Scotia will be fondly remembered. Gardening was a huge effort every spring and summer and sharing his abundant produce with family, friends and neighbors pleased him to the max.  He was a life member of the VFW Post 9460, the Stratford Firefighters Benevolent Association, Bridgeport Area Retired Firefighters and the Stratford Boat Owners Association formerly serving on the Board of Governors.
Surviving family includes sons, Thomas W. Fennell, Dean A. Fennell (Kristen) and Steven T. Fennell (Lisa); grandchildren Brandon, Britni, Brooke and Devin Fennell, Barbara and Bryan Aney and Stephanie; three great-grandchildren; brother William Fennell of Parker, Colorado; brothers-in-law, David Collins of Milford and J. David Craig (Jackie) of Stratford and several nieces and nephews. Â He was predeceased by son Garrett A. Fennell, parents Thomas and Louisa Fennell, brother Robert Fennell, in-laws William and Marie Collins and sister-in-law Kathleen Collins Craig.Â
A funeral service will be held Monday, October 26, 2015 at 9:30 a.m. in the William R. McDonald Funeral Home, 2591 Main St., Stratford, CT followed by a Mass of Christian burial in St. James Church, Main Street, Stratford, CT at 10:30 a.m. Friends may call on Sunday, October 25th in the McDonald Funeral Home from 3:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. In lieu of flowers, donations in Tom's name may be made to the Arthur C. Luf Children's Burn Camp, c/o Connecticut Burns Care Foundation, Suite 2, 601 Boston Post Road, Milford, CT 06460 or VITAS Healthcare, 99 Hawley Lane, Suite 1204, Stratford, CT 06614. Â
Many thanks to caregivers from VITAS, Connecticut in-home Assistance and family and friends who got us through this difficult time. For additional information or to share a message of condolence, visit www.wrmcdonaldfuneralhome.com.
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Tom was a graduate of the first class of St. James School, Stratford High School and the Naval Air Technical Training Command in Memphis, Tennessee. Â He proudly served in the United States Navy aboard the USS Wasp and the USS Coral Sea from 1959 to 1962. Â He loved his choice of careers as firefighter with the Stratford Fire Department where he was employed for thirty-six years. Â Previously, he was employed by Sikorsky Aircraft, Avco Lycoming Army Engine Plant and Connecticut State Oil.
Fishing on Long Island Sound on his Boat the "Four Sons" with his sons, family and friends was his ultimate pleasure trying to catch "The Big One."  Volunteering twenty-two years for the Arthur C.Luf Children's Burn Camp for children recovering from burn injuries was near and dear to his heart.  Family vacations camping for seventeen years with firefighters and families and cruises to Alaska, the Caribbean, Bahamas and Nova Scotia will be fondly remembered. Gardening was a huge effort every spring and summer and sharing his abundant produce with family, friends and neighbors pleased him to the max.  He was a life member of the VFW Post 9460, the Stratford Firefighters Benevolent Association, Bridgeport Area Retired Firefighters and the Stratford Boat Owners Association formerly serving on the Board of Governors.
Surviving family includes sons, Thomas W. Fennell, Dean A. Fennell (Kristen) and Steven T. Fennell (Lisa); grandchildren Brandon, Britni, Brooke and Devin Fennell, Barbara and Bryan Aney and Stephanie; three great-grandchildren; brother William Fennell of Parker, Colorado; brothers-in-law, David Collins of Milford and J. David Craig (Jackie) of Stratford and several nieces and nephews. Â He was predeceased by son Garrett A. Fennell, parents Thomas and Louisa Fennell, brother Robert Fennell, in-laws William and Marie Collins and sister-in-law Kathleen Collins Craig.Â
A funeral service will be held Monday, October 26, 2015 at 9:30 a.m. in the William R. McDonald Funeral Home, 2591 Main St., Stratford, CT followed by a Mass of Christian burial in St. James Church, Main Street, Stratford, CT at 10:30 a.m. Friends may call on Sunday, October 25th in the McDonald Funeral Home from 3:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. In lieu of flowers, donations in Tom's name may be made to the Arthur C. Luf Children's Burn Camp, c/o Connecticut Burns Care Foundation, Suite 2, 601 Boston Post Road, Milford, CT 06460 or VITAS Healthcare, 99 Hawley Lane, Suite 1204, Stratford, CT 06614. Â
Many thanks to caregivers from VITAS, Connecticut in-home Assistance and family and friends who got us through this difficult time. For additional information or to share a message of condolence, visit www.wrmcdonaldfuneralhome.com.
To plant a tree in memory of Thomas A. Fennell, Jr., visit the Tribute Store.
Previous Events
Visitation
Sunday
25
Oct
3:00 PM
- 7:00 PM
William R. McDonald Funeral Home
2591 Main Street
Stratford, CT 06615
Service
Monday
26
Oct
9:30 AM
William R. McDonald Funeral Home
2591 Main Street
Stratford, CT 06615
Funeral Mass of Christian Burial
Monday
26
Oct
10:30 AM
Saint James Church
2070 Main Street
Stratford, CT 06615
Cemetery Details
Location
Union Cemetery
Temple Court
Stratford, CT 06615
Memorial Contribution
Arthur C. Luf Children's Burn Camp
c/o Connecticut Burns Care Foundation, Suite 2
601 Boston Post Rd.
Milford, CT 06460
601 Boston Post Rd.
Milford, CT 06460
Vitas Hospice Care
99 Hawley Lane
Stratford, CT 06614
Stratford, CT 06614
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