Nicholas Thomas Steiz, age 75, passed away peacefully in Bridgeport Hospital on Sunday, November 12, 2017 surrounded by his loving family. Born in Bridgeport, he was the son of the late Nicholas and Genevieve Milowski Steiz. A resident of Shelton, he spent much of his life in Stratford, graduating from Stratford High School in 1960. Nicholas was a retired Stratford Firefighter but held many different jobs throughout his lifetime. His hobbies included fishing and hunting, playing golf, NASCAR and spending time in Vermont. Family was important to Nicholas. Never one to pass up an invitation, he enjoyed socializing with his family and kept a color-coded calendar to ensure he never missed one of the kids' games. Above all, Nicholas (aka Poppyboy) was a proud father and grandfather who especially cherished his grandchildren and the time he spent with them.
He is survived by daughters, Cynthia (Dennis) Hood of Naperville, IL, Jennifer (John) Gotch of Stratford and Sheila (Robert) Kelemen of Branford; his fiancé, Kathleen Finnegan of Shelton; grandchildren, Kayleigh and Thomas Hood, Elizabeth Nagy and Michael Gotch, Anthony (Sarah), Kaitlyn and Holly Kelemen; sisters, Barbara (Chet) Chechoski of Oxford, Linda Murasky of Colchester; brother Thomas (Sheryl) Steiz of Milford, and his cousin John (Teri) Norko of Bridgeport whom he considered a brother, as well as several aunts and uncles, cousins, and nieces and nephews. He was predeceased by his brother Robert Steiz and his wife, Beverly, and also his brother-in-law Walter Murasky.
Friends are invited to attend a Mass of Christian Burial on Saturday, November 18, 2017 at 10:00 am at St. Mark Roman Catholic Church, 500 Wigwam Lane, Stratford. Burial services will follow at St. John's Cemetery, 500 Moose Hill Road, Monroe. Visiting hours will take place on Friday, November 17, 2017 from 4:00 – 8:00 pm at the Dennis and D'Arcy – Abriola and Kelemen Funeral Home, 2611 Main Street, Stratford. For online condolences, please visit dennisanddarcy.com.