Thomas G. Cockerill, Jr., age 97, passed away peacefully on Wednesday at Hughes Health and Rehabilitation in West Hartford, where he had resided for the last four years.. A native of Bridgeport, Mr Cockerill lived in Bridgeport and later in Stratford for most of his life before moving to Canterbury Retirement Home in West Harford in 1999. His son Tom Cockerill III, wishes to express his deepest thanks to the staff at Canterbury and Hughes for the skillful and loving care they provided over the past several years. In addition to his son, a resident of Weatogue, Mr Cockerill is survived by a brother, Milton of Sunnyvale, Texas and by several nieces and nephews. He was predeceased in 1995 by his beloved wife, Helen Soltis Cockerill, with whom he shared 63 joyous years of marriage. He also was predeceased by brothers John and Harold and by his sister Grace Smith. Until retiring in 1977, Mr Cockerill was employed by many years at Borden's Mitchell Dairy , where he was a proud member and shop steward with the Teamsters' Union Local 191. Funeral services will be held on Saturday at 11:00 A.M. in the Adzima Funeral Home, 50 Paradise Green Place, Stratford, with the Rev George Bogdanich officiating. Interment will be in St John's Cemetery, Stratford. Friends may call on Saturday from 10:00-11:00 A.M. The family requests that in lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to Trinity Episcopal Church, 1734 Huntington Tpke, Trumbull, 06611.