Stephen F. Fedus, Jr.

Stephen F. Fedus, Jr., 96, joined the Light of Heaven on April 19, 2017, surrounded by his loving family. Born in Colchester, Conn., he was the son of the late Elizabeth (Kessler) and Steve Fedus of Colchester, who were dairy farmers. Stephen graduated from Bacon Academy in Colchester and attended the Middle Town State Trade School for one year, specializing in carpentry. During his younger years he was employed in construction but his greatest joy was when he joined the West Hartford Police Department in 1947. On his application he noted "I would like to make this my life's work." On April 13, 1948, Fedus, then 27, was shuck broadside by a vehicle that had been stolen earlier in the day. He was helping children cross the street when in that split second, the incident led to his left leg being amputated and forcing him to take a disability separation months later. One afternoon during the summer of 2016, several members of the West Hartford Police Department hand delivered a special gift to him - the department's prestigious Police Cross - awarded to a sworn officer who in the intelligent performance of his duty shows bravery and is seriously injured. It was a very special moment that Fedus treasured. Over the years Stephen worked for Connecticut's Labor Department, ran a small coffee shop, opened Stephen Fedus Realty which served the Greater Hartford area, and worked his 150-acre farm in Colchester, selling produce to restaurants and also donating his surplus to local nursing homes. Stephen's passion for "helping others and not expecting anything in return" was a motto he stayed true to all his life and he credits his father for instilling those values in him. He lived for many years in East Granby, Conn., and spent the last three years of his life in Southwick. He was also a "snowbird" spending 22 winters in St. Petersburg, Fla., his last being in 2013. Always eager to start the next project, Stephen was instrumental in opening Blue Boy Ice Cream in Southwick in October 2016. Even though Stephen admitted to "loving work," he also was passionate about watching the Red Sox and Patriots play. His favorite hobby was ballroom dancing with the women in his life, but he also enjoyed all types of dance music from polkas to country. Stephen's greatest love, his wife Marion, passed away much too soon in 1970. He was also predeceased by his brother, Frank Fedus; his sisters, Rose Fedus, Anne Fedus, and Mae Fedus, and two very special lady friends, Paula Marin, whom he spent 19 years with, and Pauline Pizzale whom he spent 15 years with. Stephen also acknowledged "Nancy," a very special cat that he knows he will see again while visiting the Rainbow Bridge in Heaven. He leaves his beloved children, Henry Fedus, D.P.M., of Granby, Conn., Stephen Fedus 3rd, O.D., of Colchester, Conn., and Mary Fedus, O.D., of East Granby, Conn., a grandson Michael Denigris, a sister, Alyce Daggett of Colchester, Conn., and several nieces and nephews. Funeral services for Stephen will be conducted Monday, April 24 at 9:00 a.m. from the Molloy Funeral Home, 906 Farmington Ave, West Hartford, which will include an Honor Guard Ceremony with the West Hartford (CT) Police Department. A Mass of Christian Burial will follow at 10:00 a.m. in St. Andrew Roman Catholic Church, 128 Norwich Ave, Colchester. Burial will immediately follow in Linwood Cemetery. Calling hours will be observed on Sunday, April 23 from 3:00 to 6:00 pm at the funeral home. Donations in Stephen's memory may be made to the Stephen Fedus Jr. Scholarship Fund, c/o Windsor Federal Savings Bank, 21 Hartford Ave., Granby, CT 06035. Funds will be designated to students of police officers serving within the Greater Hartford area. Stephen's deep faith allowed him to meet all of the ups and downs of life that God put in his path and he once said it was three prayers he said each day that helped him face adversity: The Lord's Prayer, Prayer to Your Guardian Angel, and the St. Jude Prayer. As Stephen passed into the next life, he wanted to leave a special message to all of his friends and family: "We are all angels of God," he said. "We are all here for a purpose and one of the greatest rewards we can learn is to forgive which is the beginning of the healing process." For more information, visit www.molloyfuneralhome.com