Aurora (DiBernardi) Sokolik

Aurora (DiBernardi) Sokolik, 99, of Torrington, CT, passed away peacefully on Sunday, November 13, 2022, under Valerie Manor hospice care. She was the wife of the late Edward F. Sokolik, with whom she was married for 63 years and together they created a wonderful family. Aurora (Mom, Nonni) was born on September 25, 1923, in Renton, PA, shortly after her Italian-born parents, Giuseppe and Anna (Cesco) immigrated from San Pietro di Cadore, Belluno Province, so her father could work in the Pennsylvania coal mines. When Aurora was an infant, her family moved to Torrington so her father could work in the town brass factory.

Aurora lived a life full of joy, caring, compassion, service, and love. In the 1940s, two separate doctors in town told her she was so healthy she would live to 100 years, and she certainly took their diagnoses to heart. Recovering from several major health scares over the years, she always powered through and consistently surprised her family with what she could overcome. She was able to live independently at her Torringford West Apartment until just last month, when her health finally began to decline.

Due to remnants of the Great Depression and as a new World War loomed, Aurora had to leave high school before graduation to work in the Torrington Company's Excelsior Plant as a needle inspector. She worked for the Torrington Company for many years and then at the Torringford School cafeteria when her children were in school. She always motivated her children and grandson to focus on their schooling and education, as many career opportunities were unjustly unavailable to her.

She married Eddie in 1946, shortly after his return from naval service in World War II.  It's said one of their first dates was seeing a movie in the balcony of the Warner Theatre in Torrington with her sister Armida and Armida’s future husband Vic D'Angelo. She brought a bag of apples to sneak in for snacks, and Eddie was worried the ushers would hear them crunching them up, so the boys grabbed them and threw them at the telephone poles on Main Street! Even after that, she fell in love with him and they welcomed three children into the world.

Once she and Eddie (Sokey) retired, they spent their days volunteering at the Charlotte Hungerford Hospital. Aurora could be found seated at the patient information desk in her pink Candy Striper uniform, welcoming visitors and helping them find sick family members.  She volunteered several thousand hours at the hospital over the years.

She will be greatly missed by all who knew her or had the pleasant opportunity to interact with her in her many years of life.

Aurora is survived by her two daughters, Sandy Sokolik of New Britain and Nancy Michna and partner David Kibbe of Torrington, as well as her grandson Stephen Michna, of Burlington, CT. She was pre-deceased by her parents, her son Edward Sokolik Jr. (Buddy), her loving sisters Armida D'Angelo and Gilda Sorvillo, and her brother Bruno DiBernardi. She leaves behind a large extended family full of nieces and nephews, great nieces and nephews, cousins, and even some great-great nieces!

Her daughters would like to thank the nursing staff at Valerie Manor for their care in making her final days comfortable. Her family is extremely grateful for her wonderful caregivers, Susan Lapointe and Amanda Royer, both of Torrington, for their help, comfort, and companionship over the past several years. Without them, we would not have been able to make Aurora's final years as beautiful, peaceful, and independent as they were.

Funeral services will be held on Thursday, November 17, 2022, leaving at 10:30 a.m. from Cook Funeral Home, 82 Litchfield St., Torrington, CT for a Mass of Christian Burial at 11:00 a.m. at St. Peter Church (St. John Paul the Great Parish) 99 East Main St., Torrington, CT.  Burial will follow at Hillside Cemetery.  Calling hours will be held on Wednesday, November 16, 2022, from 5:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. at Cook Funeral Home.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to The Warner Theatre, 68 Main St., Torrington, CT 06790 or to The Elderly Nutrition Program, 88 East Albert St., Torrington, CT 06790.

Condolences may be sent to the Sokolik family by visiting www.cookfuneralhomect.com