Zenonas “Mr. Merkus” Merkevicius, 97, of East Haven, husband of the late Monika (Savickaite) Merkevicius, died Sept. 28 at Connecticut Hospice. He was born Dec. 22, 1915 in Lithuania to the late Antanas and Agota (Klimaite) Merkevicius. He was the last surviving Merkevicius of eleven children.

Zenonas was educated in Vilkaviskis, and serving in the Lithuanian armed forces when World War II began. He escaped the second Soviet invasion of Lithuania by fleeing his homeland to a displaced persons camp in Hanau, Germany, where he met and married Monika Savickaite. He came to America in 1949 with his wife and mother-in-law, and settled in the Williamsburg section of Brooklyn, New York, before moving to Connecticut. 

He was a skilled carpenter, and worked in construction before taking a position as resident caretaker of the former St. Mary’s High School in New Haven. During more than 30 years of service, he used his skills to build the altar and chapel at the school and convent, in addition to many other projects.

Zenonas was an active member of the Lithuanian-American Community in New Haven. He was a lector at the former St. Casimir’s Parish in Wooster Square, and held various leadership positions in a number of Lithuanian organizations. During his lifetime, Zenonas enjoyed chess, reading, gardening, poetry, and Lithuanian folk music. In his later years he loved to sing scores of Lithuanian songs from his youth. Mostly, he loved being with family and friends.

The family wishes to express their appreciation to Adelina, his devoted caregiver, as well as the caring staff at Connecticut Hospice.

Zenonas is survived by two daughters, Gita and her husband Aidas B. Kupcinskas of Walpole, Massachusetts, and Diana and her husband Richard Cappello of Milford; three grandchildren, Dainora Kupcinskas, Maxwell Walzer and his wife Regina, and Aidas Z. Kupcinskas and his wife Caitlin; and three great-grandchildren, Liepa Ivanauskas, Emmanuel Walzer, and Darius Kupcinskas.

Family will receive friends Wednesday, Oct. 2 from 9 a.m. - 10:15 a.m. at the Clancy Funeral Home, 43 Kirkham Ave., East Haven. The funeral procession will leave Clancy Funeral Home at 10:15 a.m. for a Mass of Christian burial to be celebrated at 10:30 a.m. in St. Vincent de Paul Church, East Haven. Burial will be in Gate of Heaven Cemetery, Putnam, at 3 p.m. In lieu of flowers, please make donations in memory of Zenonas Merkevicius to the Sisters of the Immaculate Conception, 600 Liberty Highway, Putnam, CT 06260. Clancy Funeral Home, East Haven, is in charge of arrangements.