Adele Bockus

On Monday, May 20, at the age of 102, Adele Bockus joined her husband, Dick, on heaven’s great golf course.  

Adele was born in Gardner, Massachusetts, the daughter of the late John and Josephine Lesneski, and one of 12 children from a blended family.  Known as the “Queen of the Court,” she started playing tennis in high school with her brother, Vic, and became the Gardner Women’s tennis champion in 1939, 1940, 1941, and 1942. She was an avid athlete and a fierce competitor but always a good sport, using humor and her good nature to keep the mood light.

Adele graduated from Gardner High School and was employed by the former Simplex Time Recorder Co. and the former Thayer’s.   She eventually became a clerk in the Gardner District Court, from where she retired at the age of 70, after 23 years of service.  

She and Dick were married after WWII and raised their three children in E. Templeton.  Adele was a certified swim teacher who taught her own and many other children how to swim.  She used her talents as a seamstress to create clothing for her children and beautiful hand-knit sweaters for her four grandsons. 

Though she was a huge Patriots and Celtics fan, being especially fond of Larry Bird, Adele turned the sport of golf into a lifelong passion.  Along with Dick and their golfing buddies, she would take to the course as much as possible, every day during the summer months.  On July 21, 1993, she was proud to accomplish a hole-in-one at the Gardner Golf Course, where she continued playing until she was 97 years young.  Being able to play golf with her children and grandchildren brought her much joy.

When she wasn’t golfing, Adele kept moving with line dancing, square dancing, aerobics, bowling, and walking, as well as working in her well-tended flower garden.  A long-time parishioner of Holy Cross Church, she volunteered for a number of years in the office rectory and prepared the Sunday bulletin.

Asked what her secret was to longevity, Adele would say that walking everywhere when she was young and staying active probably helped. She was a loving, engaged, and generous wife, mother, mother-in-law, grandmother, great-grandmother, sister, and friend.

She was predeceased by her daughter, Elaine Peterson, grandson David Orre, and all of her siblings. Survivors include children Sandra (Jerry) Orre and Gary (Fran) Bockus; son-in-law Fred Peterson; grandchildren Jon (Courtney) Orre, Eric (Jill Boudreau) and Neil Bockus; great-grandchildren Grayson, Michaela, Rose, and several nieces and nephews.

The family would like to thank Fatu, Yuster, Reheema, and all of the other aides from Truly Cherished Home Care for their consistent, kind, and loving support of Adele. Because of their care, she was able to remain, until the very end, in the home that she and her husband had built together over 70 years ago.

Calling hours will be on Sunday, May 26, 2024 from 1 to 2 pm at Mack Family Funeral Home, 105 Central St., Gardner. A funeral service will be held at 2 pm in the funeral home.

Burial in the Massachusetts Veterans Cemetery, Winchendon will be private and at a later date. 

To send an online condolence please visit www.mackfamilyfh.com.

Mack Family Funeral Home, 105 Central St., Gardner is directing arrangements.

Kevin J. Mack, Walter C. Taylor & Melissa A. McQuaid Directors.