Obituary of Mary L. Dupnik

Mary Felicia LaBella Dupnik, age 88, of Trumbull, beloved wife of the late Joseph J. Dupnik, passed away on Saturday, March 17, 2018 at Ludlowe Center of Fairfield. Born in Middletown, CT on December 19, 1929, she was a daughter of the late Angelo and Felicetta Salafia LaBella. After graduating from Woodrow Wilson High School, class of 1947, Mary worked as secretary to the administrator of Middlesex Memorial Hospital until she married on April 7, 1951. In 1968 and after residing in Saunderstown, RI, Pensicola, FL, Troy, NY, and Monroe, CT, Mary moved with her family to Trumbull.

In March of 1975, she began her work in the probate court under the original judge and clerk of the Trumbull/Easton/Monroe district as an assistant clerk, moving to the clerk's position in 1986 until she retired in 2004. Mary was awarded Probate Clerk of the Year at the annual meeting of the Connecticut Probate Assembly held April 25, 1989 in Hartford. In a May 17, 1990 Trumbull Times letter to the editor, Probate Court Administrator, Ralph D. Lukens wrote, "…kindness has been Mary Dupnik's hallmark. She has a smile for everyone who enters the court. If she senses that more is needed, Mary will offer a word of solace, a bit of encouragement, or maybe even a hug. In her presence, any worries people have about the probate court slip away. Mary answers their questions. She explains things." During her many years in the Connecticut Association of Probate Clerks, she had served as president in addition to secretary and coordinator for Region 8. Mary was a member of the Trumbull Floral Art Garden Club, life-long member of the St. Stephen Church Rosary Altar Society and member of the Trumbull Woman's Club during her retirement.

Survivors include her six loving children, Laura Smutnick and her husband John of Pomfret, John Dupnik and his wife Margaret of Shaftsbury, VT, Thomas Dupnik and his wife Deborah of Shamong, NJ, David Dupnik and his wife Donna of Trumbull, Susan Spence and her late husband Andrew Spence of Oak Park, CA, Alyssa Mocco and her husband Raymond of Easton, a brother, Frank LaBella and his wife Arlyne of Winnipeg, Canada, a sister, Angela Johnson and her husband Albert of Old Saybrook, 12 grandchildren, Douglas and Michael Smutnick, Kathryn Dupnik, Benjamin Dupnik and his wife Barbara, Alexandra, Michaelina, Jonathan and Gina Dupnik, Stephen and Samara Spence, James and Jared Mocco and two great granddaughters, Evelyn and Emily as well as many nieces and nephews.

Friends are invited to meet directly in St. Stephen Church, 6948 Main St., Trumbull on Friday, March 23, 2018 at 10:00 a.m. for a Mass of Christian Burial. Interment will follow in Calvary Cemetery, Middletown, CT. Friends may greet the family on Thursday from 4:00 to 8:00 p.m. at The Abriola Parkview Funeral Home, 419 White Plains Road, Trumbull.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to St. Jude's Children's Research Hospital, 501 St. Jude Place, Memphis, TN 38105.