Obituary of Sophie Z. Gunsalus

Sophie Z. Gunsalus, 90, of Church Street, Putnam, CT, died Thursday at Matulaitis Nursing Home in Putnam, CT. She was the wife of the late Kenneth Gunsalus who died in 2004. She was born October 22, 1920 in Plainville, PA, daughter of the late Antoni and Ketrin (Romanowska) Zinavage. She was an Executive Secretary at Belding Hemingway in Putnam for over 42 years, retiring in 1984. Sophie was past president of the BHC Employees Association and was editor for ten years of the The Belcortline Company Newspaper. Sophie was a communicant of St. Marys Church of the Visitation, a 20 year member of the National Secretaries Association, and charter president of the Windham County Chapter. She was named Secretary of the Year in 1972. Sophie was a Master Cake Decorator with a diploma from the Wilton School of Cake Decorating in Chicago and the Seeger School of Advanced Decorating in Toledo, OH. She earned diplomas from the National School of Design in Chicago and Cybick School of Custom Tailoring in New York City. She ran cake decorating classes in her home for 8 years. Sophie and her husband were members of the Museum of Glass in Corning, NY and attended seminars for 37 years on Antique Glass. In 1983 they received national recognition for their expertise and knowledge on antique dolls and glass by the National Auctioneers Association. She was a great collector of antique dolls and glass. She leaves her grandchildren: Mark, Mary, Matthew, Christopher and great-grandchildren: Megan, Gregory, Grace, Christina, Elizabeth, Jack and daughter-in-law, Laura Gunsalus. Sophie was predeceased by her son, Edward Gunsalus. Calling Hours will be Monday, February 7th from 9:30 to 10:30 AM at the Smith and Walker Funeral Home, 148 Grove Street, Putnam, followed by a Mass of Christian Burial at 11:00 AM at St. Mary Church of the Visitation, 218 Providence Street, Putnam. Burial will be at St. Mary Cemetery, Putnam in the spring. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in her memory to Troop 25 BSA, Putnam Methodist Church, 51 Grove Street, Putnam, CT 06260. To share a memory with her family, "Light a Candle" at www.smithandwalkerfh.com