Obituary of Charles E. Palau

Dearest Father of Rebecca and Valerie Palau his rascal twins, and best friend, companion, and fiancée of Lois Nitch, although they met later in life it was as if they knew each other forever. Lois’s forever Charlie. Charlie was born in Centerbrook Connecticut on November 5, 1937 and passed away on June 15, 2021 at the age of 83. He loved Centerbrook and he always referred to it as the North End which always brought a smile to everyone who knew him. Born to Louis Palau and Florence (Ahlstrin) Palau he was the only boy in the family. Three sisters, Elizabeth Tirone wife of Carl Tirone (predeceased), Eleanor Jacobs wife of Fred Jacobs and predeceased by his sister Patricia Palau. Charlie graduated from Valley Regional High School class of 1955, earned an Associates Degree from Mitchell College in New London class of 1959 and a Bachelor’s Degree from UCONN in 1968. A young man of many adventures including hopping a freight car in Centerbrook with his pals to go on a journey and didn’t get very far when the train detached from the car and left without them. Working at Doane’s Drug Store and working at Mario Bella’s Fruit Stand and Garden Shop. He even worked one summer inspecting the keys on pianos. Lois often thought as he told me these stories that he was like “Forest Gump” finding different things to do and enjoying each and every one of them and the people along the way. Charlie worked at Electric Boat as a marine draftsman, New Britain Machine (where fellow workers enjoyed meeting for lunch at various restaurants), and Pratt Whitney and last but not least his favorite job delivering parts for Interstate Ford stopping along the way for a donut or ice cream throughout the New England area. He served in the Army in France as a radio relay technician and while in France he met Daniele Minost and they were married and the next thing you know it was not one but two little girls Rebecca and Valerie. He often talked about carrying them one in each arm. There were many visits to Centerbrook in the summertime and enjoying all their outings for ice cream and the Muster in Deep River where the whole family would gather year after year for oysters and a family picnic. He was married to Joan O’Connor and he will be missed by his step children and step grandchildren as he was always Poppie to them and always there when they needed a helping hand or just a warm smile. Charlie and Lois met at cards, playing setback in Rocky Hill. Charlie took out his map showing her his Palau Island located in the Pacific Ocean. Charlie could always find humor in everyday life and make Lois laugh. During the Pandemic he and Lois took a ride every day traveling all over the State of Connecticut going from A to Z on the Connecticut map to towns, places and parks they had never seen before and it was a wonderful adventure during the dark days of the Pandemic. He just loved the UCONN Husky’s Women’s Basketball never missing a game, The Tour de France, his pup Scarlett, a 1953 Studebaker, playing cards in three different places, going to Niantic to see if the bridge was down to let the trains go by especially the Acela, and there was always time to go to Ferry Park in Rocky Hill to see the oldest continues ferry in the United States. Whenever you hear a train whistle think of Charlie and wish him a safe journey. Lois has been so blessed to be in Charlie’s life to know him was to love him. Charlie’s family thanks the doctors and staff at UCONN John Dempsey Hospital who took care of Charlie with his short battle with lung cancer. Memorial donation may be made in his name to the American Red Cross Connecticut Chapter, 209 Farmington Avenue, Farmington, CT 06032 as Charlie was a life time donor or to a charity of the donor’s choice. Visitation will be held on Thursday, June 24, 2021 at 10:00AM at the Robinson, Wright & Weymer Funeral Home, 34 Main Street in Centerbrook with a funeral service following at 11:00AM. Interment with the rendering of Full Military Honors will follow in the Riverview Cemetery in Essex. To share a memory of Charlie or send a condolence to his family please visit www.rwwfh.com.