[from the Windsor Locks Journal, 6/10/2005]
A sudden turn of events has Windsor Locks mourning one of their own this week as Janet Orio was found dead at her home Thursday, June 2.
Police Chief John Suchocki said that dispatch received a phone call around 1 a.m. from Orio and by the time paramedics had arrived she had already passed away.
Orio, 51, has served as the Windsor Locks animal control officer for nearly 10 years, according to Suchocki and has recently become known for her work regarding the dog pound.
"It is a shame that nobody knew how hard she worked," said good friend Eileen Riner. "The shelter was only recently brought up in the news, but she had been working on it for years."
Orio also worked as a fuel dispatcher at Bradley Airport but, according to Riner, it was obvious animals were her first love.
"I sometimes thought she loved four legged animals more then she did two legged ones," Orio said. "She was constantly checking on those dogs once before we went out and then when we left as well."
Suchocki remembers Orio as a very hard worker who was dedicated to her job. "The loss of Janet Orio will be a huge loss to this community," he said.
Memorial services were held Saturday at the Carmen Funeral Home on Poquonock Avenue. Father Ted of Sacred Heart in Suffield performed the service for Orio. He recalled how, when he would visit, the dog would jump on his black suit and cover it in dog hair. He would then tell this to Orio, and she would laugh and just say, "Father, that means he likes you."
A special arrangement was made for Orio because of her love for dogs. Friends arranged with the funeral home to allow three people to walk past her with their animals.
"It was very emotional," said Barbara Schley, who was one of those who walked with her dog. "But it is what she would have wanted."
Schley, who also serves as president of the Windsor Locks Preservation Association, said the group is looking into the possibility of having the new animal control facility, which was approved in this year's budget, named for Orio.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations in her honor be made to the Windsor Locks Animal Shelter c/o Town of Windsor Locks, first selectman's office in town hall.
A sudden turn of events has Windsor Locks mourning one of their own this week as Janet Orio was found dead at her home Thursday, June 2.
Police Chief John Suchocki said that dispatch received a phone call around 1 a.m. from Orio and by the time paramedics had arrived she had already passed away.
Orio, 51, has served as the Windsor Locks animal control officer for nearly 10 years, according to Suchocki and has recently become known for her work regarding the dog pound.
"It is a shame that nobody knew how hard she worked," said good friend Eileen Riner. "The shelter was only recently brought up in the news, but she had been working on it for years."
Orio also worked as a fuel dispatcher at Bradley Airport but, according to Riner, it was obvious animals were her first love.
"I sometimes thought she loved four legged animals more then she did two legged ones," Orio said. "She was constantly checking on those dogs once before we went out and then when we left as well."
Suchocki remembers Orio as a very hard worker who was dedicated to her job. "The loss of Janet Orio will be a huge loss to this community," he said.
Memorial services were held Saturday at the Carmen Funeral Home on Poquonock Avenue. Father Ted of Sacred Heart in Suffield performed the service for Orio. He recalled how, when he would visit, the dog would jump on his black suit and cover it in dog hair. He would then tell this to Orio, and she would laugh and just say, "Father, that means he likes you."
A special arrangement was made for Orio because of her love for dogs. Friends arranged with the funeral home to allow three people to walk past her with their animals.
"It was very emotional," said Barbara Schley, who was one of those who walked with her dog. "But it is what she would have wanted."
Schley, who also serves as president of the Windsor Locks Preservation Association, said the group is looking into the possibility of having the new animal control facility, which was approved in this year's budget, named for Orio.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations in her honor be made to the Windsor Locks Animal Shelter c/o Town of Windsor Locks, first selectman's office in town hall.
[from the Windsor Locks Journal, 6/10/2005]
A sudden turn of events has Windsor Locks mourning one of their own this week as Janet Orio was found dead at her home Thursday, June 2.
Police Chief John Suchocki said that dispatch received a phone call around 1 a.m. from Orio and by the time paramedics had arrived she had already passed away.
Orio, 51, has served as the Windsor Locks animal control officer for nearly 10 years, according to Suchocki and has recently become known for her work regarding the dog pound.
"It is a shame that nobody knew how hard she worked," said good friend Eileen Riner. "The shelter was only recently brought up in the news, but she had been working on it for years."
Orio also worked as a fuel dispatcher at Bradley Airport but, according to Riner, it was obvious animals were her first love.
"I sometimes thought she loved four legged animals more then she did two legged ones," Orio said. "She was constantly checking on those dogs once before we went out and then when we left as well."
Suchocki remembers Orio as a very hard worker who was dedicated to her job. "The loss of Janet Orio will be a huge loss to this community," he said.
Memorial services were held Saturday at the Carmen Funeral Home on Poquonock Avenue. Father Ted of Sacred Heart in Suffield performed the service for Orio. He recalled how, when he would visit, the dog would jump on his black suit and cover it in dog hair. He would then tell this to Orio, and she would laugh and just say, "Father, that means he likes you."
A special arrangement was made for Orio because of her love for dogs. Friends arranged with the funeral home to allow three people to walk past her with their animals.
"It was very emotional," said Barbara Schley, who was one of those who walked with her dog. "But it is what she would have wanted."
Schley, who also serves as president of the Windsor Locks Preservation Association, said the group is looking into the possibility of having the new animal control facility, which was approved in this year's budget, named for Orio.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations in her honor be made to the Windsor Locks Animal Shelter c/o Town of Windsor Locks, first selectman's office in town hall.
A sudden turn of events has Windsor Locks mourning one of their own this week as Janet Orio was found dead at her home Thursday, June 2.
Police Chief John Suchocki said that dispatch received a phone call around 1 a.m. from Orio and by the time paramedics had arrived she had already passed away.
Orio, 51, has served as the Windsor Locks animal control officer for nearly 10 years, according to Suchocki and has recently become known for her work regarding the dog pound.
"It is a shame that nobody knew how hard she worked," said good friend Eileen Riner. "The shelter was only recently brought up in the news, but she had been working on it for years."
Orio also worked as a fuel dispatcher at Bradley Airport but, according to Riner, it was obvious animals were her first love.
"I sometimes thought she loved four legged animals more then she did two legged ones," Orio said. "She was constantly checking on those dogs once before we went out and then when we left as well."
Suchocki remembers Orio as a very hard worker who was dedicated to her job. "The loss of Janet Orio will be a huge loss to this community," he said.
Memorial services were held Saturday at the Carmen Funeral Home on Poquonock Avenue. Father Ted of Sacred Heart in Suffield performed the service for Orio. He recalled how, when he would visit, the dog would jump on his black suit and cover it in dog hair. He would then tell this to Orio, and she would laugh and just say, "Father, that means he likes you."
A special arrangement was made for Orio because of her love for dogs. Friends arranged with the funeral home to allow three people to walk past her with their animals.
"It was very emotional," said Barbara Schley, who was one of those who walked with her dog. "But it is what she would have wanted."
Schley, who also serves as president of the Windsor Locks Preservation Association, said the group is looking into the possibility of having the new animal control facility, which was approved in this year's budget, named for Orio.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations in her honor be made to the Windsor Locks Animal Shelter c/o Town of Windsor Locks, first selectman's office in town hall.
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