Nov. 18, 1935 ~ April 20, 2024
Marlborough – Harriet E. (Butler) Zilembo, 88, of Marlborough, passed away on Saturday, April 20, 2024, at Marlborough Hospital, surrounded by her adoring family. She was married to Charles J. Zilembo, and they celebrated their 67th wedding anniversary before his passing in 2020.
Harriet was born, raised, and educated in Marlborough and was the daughter of the late James and Mildred (Dupuis) Butler.
Harriet was an Air Force bride and joined Charlie early in their marriage when he was stationed at a base in Ohio. She then returned to Massachusetts while he served during the Korean War.
Harriet and Charlie went on to have 6 children. She was a homemaker when her children were young and was later employed during the 1970s-80s Technology Era as a PC board assembler, where she worked for Raytheon and many smaller start-ups. Harriet’s favorite job of all was being a mom, a grandmother, and ultimately a great-grandmother.
Harriet’s love for life was evident in her passion for cooking, snuggling with her grandchildren, and traveling across the country with her husband, Charlie. She was also a lifelong lover of horses, the Boston Red Sox, the New England Patriots, and Foxwoods Casino. She will be remembered as a strong woman who overcame the early loss of her own mother and went on to be an inspiration to all mothers. She was sweet and sassy with a memorable sense of humor. To know her was to love her, and she loved deeply.
Harriet leaves a legacy of love, dedication, and an unwavering commitment to her family. She leaves three sons, Richard P. Zilembo of Marlborough, Charley A. Zilembo of Leicester and Mark J. Zilembo and his wife Pamela of Wayland; two daughters, Tina M. Thebado and her husband Kris and Linda Zilembo Lee and her husband Willard of Groton; nine grandchildren, Stephanie and her husband Nicholas, Nicole and her husband Felipe, Anthony and his wife Amy, Ray, Jamie, Jacob, Chloe, Juliana and Francesca; nine great grandchildren, Camila, Sydney, Averey, Carmine, Dominic, Payton, Sadie, Santino and Vincent; several nephews, nieces and cousins. She was the mother of the late Raymond C. Zilembo who died in 1999. She was predeceased by her seven siblings, James, Bumpy, Ray, Dorothy, Freddy, Alice and Bobby.
A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated Friday April 26 at 9 AM in Immaculate Conception Church, Prospect Street, Marlborough. Calling hours will be held Thursday from 5-8 PM in the Collins Funeral Home, 378 Lincoln Street, Marlborough. Burial will be held at a later date in Maplewood Cemetery.
All are invited to sign Harriet’s online guestbook at www.Collinsfuneral.com.
In lieu of flowers, a donation in her memory may be made to: www.canterusa.org, a non-profit organization that supports retired thoroughbred racehorses in a variety of ways.
