John Zapatka
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Obituary for John J. Zapatka

John J.  Zapatka
John J. Zapatka, Sr., of Kennebunk, Maine, formerly of Westerly, was born in Newington, Ct in 1916, the youngest boy in a large family. A US Army veteran, he served during World War II at Fort HG Wright, off the Connecticut coast. He married Ruth Butler in 1943, and worked for the NY, NH and Hartford Railroad before beginning a career as a letter carrier with a walking route that traversed both downtown Westerly, RI and Pawcatuck, CT. After the death of his first wife in 1981, he married Margaret Coakley from Millis, Mass, in 1983. He was a former member of the railroad union and served as the secretary of the Westerly local of the National Association of Letter Carriers. He was also a former member of the Watch Hill Volunteer Fire Dept. and once served as steward. He was a communicant St. Clare Church in Misquamicut where he was a long time liturgical reader.

He is survived by his wife, Margaret of Kennebunk; his children, Dorothy Carter of St. Louis, MO, Barbara Zapatka Durand of Easton, PA, John J. Zapatka, Jr. of Higganum, CT, Robert Zapatka of Houston, TX and David Zapatka of North Kingstown, RI; step-children, Margaret Sepos of Shrewsbury, MA, Daniel Coakley of Biddeford, ME and Thomas Coakley of Alfred, ME; nine grandchildren and two great-grandchildren. He was pre-deceased by daughter, Ann Zapatka Bailey.

Visiting hours are omitted. A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated on Saturday morning at 10 o'clock at St. Clare Church, Crandall Ave., Westerly, RI and he will be interred at St. Sebastian Cemetery, Westerly.

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