Janet A. Daugela

"Palmer-Janet A. (Kukevich) Daugela (dougal) of Thorndike, MA died on April 11, 2010 at the Amherst Center for Extended Care after a long struggle with Alzheimer's. Janet was born on Sept. 26, 1941, in Manchester, CT, the only child of Walter and Irene (Staskavich) Kukevich, the grandchildren of Lithuanian immigrants. Janet was raised on a farm in the Broad Brook section of East Windsor, CT, class valedictorian of East Windsor High School 1959, graduated for the University of Connecticut 1963. Before her marriage she worked as an RN at Manchester Memorial Hospital, Manchester, CT. Janet was a life-long lover of cats, a gourmet cook and baker, and a lover of Chicago-style polka music, especially played by Lenny Gumulka. She also loved Zosia by Scrubby and the Dynatones. Her best times were spent at Polka dances with her many Polka family friends. Janet leaves her husband of 39 years, John, daughter Sonya of NYC, son Peter (Courtney) of Somerville. She was the beloved Babci of Eva and Leif. She also leaves her brother-in-law Frank Dougal of Roseburg, Oregon, niece Kristina of Roseburg and nephew James of Phoenix, Arizona. Janet's favorite polkas, compiled by Todd Zaganiacz of WMUA, will be played at her memorial service at the Beers & Story Palmer Funeral Home on Thursday from 5:00-7:00 p.m. with a service of remembrance beginning at 7:00 p.m. The family requests no flowers but welcomes donations in Janet's memory to WMUA Polka Radio c/o Todd Zaganiacz, 1A Tina Dr., South Deerfield, MA 01373 or the Dakin Animal Shelter, 163 Montague Rd., Leverett, MA 01054. Burial will be private at Sts. Peter & Paul Cemetery. Special thanks to the wonderful staff at Amherst Center For Extended Care and to all the wonderful polka DJs, polka musicians and polka people who brought so much love and joy into Janet's life. "