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William 'Bud' Rasor
William "Bud" Rasor, 88, of Skyline Drive, Brookfield, died, Feb. 21, 2005 at Danbury Hospital following a brief illness. Mr. Rasor was born July 31, 1916 the son of the late Wiley and Margret (Elliot) Rasor in Elizabethtan, Tenn.
In Bud's early years he graduated from Brush High School in Colorado. Upon finishing high school, he went on to study science and biology at the Colorado College of Education where he obtained his master's degree. Bud continued his education in graduate studies at New York University.
On April 12, 1941 he married Mildred Jensen and they enjoyed 63 years of marriage. Bud was a college professor at Western Connecticut State University for over 30 years until his retirement in 1970. Upon his retirement he was honored by being named a professor emeritus.
Bud was a member of the Brookfield Exchange Club, as well as his college fraternity. He was known to love working with his hands, fixing and building anything he could. He was known as "Mr. Wizard" by family and friends for his skill in repairing things. Most of all, he will be remembered as a wonderful husband, father, grandfather and friend to all that knew him.
William will be sadly missed by his loving wife, Mildred, his one son: Robert Rasor and his wife Cheryl of New Milford; his one grandson: Chris Rasor, who is at home in New Milford and one sister, Alice Mortensen, of Idaho. Mr. Rasor is preceded in death by a grandson, Robert Stephen Rasor, who died in 1984, four sisters: Bessie Baker, Ruby Treinen, Willa Bell, Roma Rasor, and two brothers: Dr. Harry Rasor and Clarence Rasor.
A funeral service will be held Saturday at the Congregational Church of Brookfield at 11 a.m. Interment will take place in the spring at Central Cemetery in Brookfield.
Friends may call on the family at the Brookfield Funeral Home, 786 Federal Road, Brookfield on Friday, from 6 to 8 p.m.
The family requests that any donations made in Mr. Rasor's memory be directed to the charity of one's choice.
To light a candle of hope and remembrance please visit our Web site at www.Cornellmemorial.com.
Viveca L. Burr
Viveca Lilon Burr, daughter of Elvi Burr and the late Perry Burr, passed into the arms of Jesus Feb. 19, 2005 at the Danbury Hospital, with her family by her side.
She was born June 26, 1954, in Sharon. Most of her life was spent in Brookfield, where she resided with her mother. Viveca was an accomplished athlete, excelling in softball and basketball at Brookfield High School. She also had a love for music and enjoyed playing the drums. She attained her LPN and touched many lives during her career as a nurse. While battling breast cancer, she received her B.A. from Sacred Heart University in Fairfield.
Courage, determination and loyalty were her hallmarks. Veca's belief in Jesus Christ was the foundation of her life. Her love was spread with generosity to family and many friends.
She is survived by her mother, Elvi of Brookfield and brothers Matthew and Patrick of Brookfield, Philip of Bethel, Timothy of Newtown and Jonathon of Washington; nine nieces and nephews and a great niece.
A memorial service will be held at St. Paul's Episcopal Church, Brookfield, Saturday at 11:30 a.m.
Cremation Services of Western Connecticut is in charge of arrangements.
Gloria (DeFina) Meyer
Gloria (DeFina) Meyer, 81, formerly of Southbury, formerly of Brookfield passed away peacefully at her home in Southbury, Feb. 12, 2005.
Gloria was born Aug. 23, 1923 in New Haven. She moved to Bronx, N.Y. and later to Bridgeport. She married Paul J. Meyer June 25, 1955 at St. Margaret's Shrine in Bridgeport. They lived in Bridgeport from 1955 to 1970 and moved to North Little Rock, Ark., in 1970. They then moved to Brookfield in 1975 and later to Southbury in 2003.
In 1941, she graduated from Central High School in Bridgeport. During World War II, (1942-1945) she worked for a defense contractor, Chance Vaught Aviation, as a drill press operator. She attended Butler Business School and later worked at Remington Arms Company in the Quality Control Department.
Gloria moved to Brookfield and attended St. Joseph's Catholic Church and was active in women's organizations. She participated in their annual musical. In 1994, she joined St. Marguerite Bourgeois Catholic Church and was active in women's organizations such as the Bingo Committee and Hospitality.
From 1982 to 1998, she worked in the cafeteria for the Brookfield public school system.
She was the third daughter of a family of four girls from the parents of Joseph DeFina and Angela (Jacobelli) DeFina of Bridgeport.
She is survived by her family, which includes her husband Paul and her sons: Richard of Woodbury; Robert of Watertown; Thomas and Jeffrey, both of Southbury and her daughter Nancy Langrock of Southbury. They have 15 grandchildren. Survivors also include her three sisters: Ann Nimke of Bridgeport; Lee Bottani of Paramus, N.J. and Frances DiMenna of Trumbull. She also has several nieces and nephews.
We, her family, will forever remember the kindness, generosity and love she brought to all who knew her. Her love for all of us was unconditional. We will always remember her winning smile, reflecting her warm and caring heart. She will be missed, but we thank the Dear Lord for bringing her into our lives. We have all been enriched by her life and we are better people because of her.
A Mass celebrating her life win be held Friday at 11 a.m. at Sacred Heart Church, Southbury. Calling hours will be held at Sacred Heart Church Thursday from 4 to 8 p.m., with a prayer service beginning at 7 p.m.
Contributions may be made to: Food for the Poor, Deerfield Beach, FL 33441.
Frank Edward Halsey
Frank Edward Halsey, 85, of New Milford, died Feb. 21, 2005 at his home. He was the husband of Barbara Farrell Halsey.
Mr. Halsey was born in Bridgeport Dec. 14, 1919, son of the late Frank and Loretta Delaney Halsey.
He worked for many years as an import-export manager at Warnaco Inc. in Bridgeport.
A loving family man, Frank started his life by winning a hard-fought battle with polio at the age of 5. He went on to become very active as a member and later a Scoutmaster in the Boy Scouts of America. Despite a 4-F status, he later talked his way into the United States Army during World War II, serving for three and a half years and attaining the rank of staff sergeant. In his later years he was a member of the American Legion. He was also very active in the 4-H club and its Fairfield County Fair Association.
In addition to his wife, he is survived by three daughters: Mary Ann Ford of Seymour, Susan Guertin of New Milford and Janet Rankin of Loveland, Ohio; and six grandchildren.
A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated Thursday at 5:30 p.m. at St. Francis Xavier Church, New Milford. Burial will be private, at the convenience of the family. Friends may call at the Lillis Funeral Home, 58 Bridge Street, New Milford, Thursday from 3 to 5 p.m.
Contributions in his memory may be made to American Legion, 45 Fort Hill Road, New Milford, CT 06776.
Andrea Tryonoviech Tucci
Andrea Tryonoviech Tucci, 53, of Sherman, passed away with her family by her side on Saturday, February 19, 2005 at New Milford Hospital, after a 22-year battle with multiple sclerosis. She was the wife of George Tucci.
Mrs. Tucci was born in New Milford September 17, 1951, daughter of Barbara Cass Tryonoviech, of Sherman and the late Andrew Tryonoviech.
A resident of the Sherman-New Milford area her entire life, she worked many years at the Kent Manufacturing Company in Kent, Conn.
In addition to her husband of 25 years and her mother, she is survived by a daughter, Peggy Sue Tryonoviech, of Dover Plains, N.Y.; two stepdaughters: Tammy Tucci of New Milford and Kim Thompkins of Norwalk; a brother, David Sheldon of New Fairfield; two sisters: Deborah Carollo of Sherman and Crystal Angelovich of New Milford and several nieces and nephews.
A funeral service will take place on Wednesday, 7 p.m., at the Lillis Funeral Home, 58 Bridge St., New Milford.
Burial will take place in the Spring at Morningside Cemetery, Gaylordsville.
Friends may call at the Lillis Funeral Home on Wednesday, 5 to 8 p.m.
Contributions in her memory may be made to New Milford Visiting Nurse Association, 68 Park Lane Road, New Milford, CT 06776.
Alice S. Goldie
Alice S. Goldie, 84, of Brookfield, died Feb. 22, 2005 at Danbury Hospital. She was the wife of the late Robert D. Goldie.
Mrs. Goldie was born Aug. 26, 1920, in Elderslie, Johnstone, Scotland, the daughter of the late John and Jane (Phillips) Skillen. She immigrated to New York in 1923 where she was raised and educated. She was an administrative assistant at Jacoby Hospital, Bronx, N.Y. Mrs. Goldie moved to this area after her retirement. She was a volunteer for the Cancer Society, where she worked with the patients.
Mrs. Goldie is survived by a son: Bruce A. Goldie of Estero, Fla.; two daughters: Jill C. Goldie of Brookfield and Suzanne J. Goldie of Bethel; a sister: Christina Kaufmann of Trumbull; four grandchildren: Billy S. Goldie, Robert P. Goldie, Anthony M. Goldie, Sara M. Goldie; two great grandsons: R. Cougar Goldie and River A. Goldie. She was predeceased by a sister, Sally S. Berlinghoff.
The funeral service will be held Thursday, at 7 p.m. at the Brookfield Funeral Home, 786 Federal Road, Brookfield. Burial will take place in Central Cemetery in the spring. The family will receive friends at the funeral home Thursday from 5 to 7 p.m.
To light a candle of hope and remembrance please visit our Web site at www.Cornellmemorial.com.
Ercole “Ed” Petrella
Ercole “Ed” Petrella, age 82, of Pawling, NY, formerly of Danbury and Florida, died Sunday June 26, 2005 at Bethel Health Care Center. He was the husband of the late Mary (Santos) Petrella.
He was born in Pratola Peligna Provincia de Aquila, Italy April 2, 1923, son of the late Antonio and Liberata (D’Alesandro) Petrella.
He was a U.S. Army World War II veteran.
He owned and operated Modern Shoe Repair located on Main Street in Danbury for 52 years prior to his retirement.
He was a member of St. Joseph Church, the American Legion and the Veterans of Foreign Wars.
He is survived by a daughter, Linda C. Giso and her husband Michael of Pawling, NY with whom he made his home for the past 16 months; a son, Richard Petrella and his wife Patti of New Milford; grandchildren Julian J. Jr., Anthony, Jon E. and Dawn Marie; great-grandchildren, Christopher, Kelsie, Nicholas, Taylor and Maya; a sister, Lena Setaro of Danbury; a brother, Mario Petrella of Palm Coast, FL and several nieces and nephews.
A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at St. Joseph Church, Danbury on Thursday Morning at 10 a.m. Burial with follow in St. Peter Cemetery.
Friends will be received at the Green Funeral Home, 57 Main St., Danbury on Wednesday from 4 to 8 p.m.
Contributions in his memory may be made to Regional Hospice of Western CT, 405 Main St., Danbury, CT 06810, Hospice of Dutchess County, 374 Violet Ave., Poughkeepsie, NY 12601 or Bethel Health Care Nursing Education Fund, c/o Resident Council, 13 Park Lawn Drive, Bethel, CT 06801.
William H. Biesel
William H. Biesel, 88, of Coudersport, PA, formerly of Newtown, died Saturday, June 25, 2005 in Coudersport, PA. A graduate of the Peddie School (Cum Laude Society) in Hightstown, NJ, he earned a degree in journalism from Syracuse University, class of 1939. Mr. Biesel was a World War II Veteran, serving with the US Army Signal Corps in the Pacific Theatre from 1942-46, and was discharged at the rank of Master Sergeant. As a cryptographic technician, he directed a U.S. Army base code room on New Guinea and later directed the code room at GHQ AFP AC signal center in Manila, which served the headquarters of Gen. MacArthur as CINC AFPAC and later as Supreme Commander for the Allied Powers. After the war, he was a partner in the financial services firm, Biesel and Way in Coudersport until 1957. He then worked for the Potter Enterprise until 1962. From 1962-2000, he was employed with the Newtown Bee, Newtown, (1962-1965) and Bridgeport Telegram Post (1965-2000), now the Connecticut Post, retiring as city editor at age 83. He returned to Coudersport in 2002. He was a charter member of the Valley Presbyterian Church in Brookfield.
Surviving are: a son, CAPT. Douglass Todd (Beth) Biesel, USN of Silverdale, WA; a daughter, Deborah Anne (Ronald) Wilker of Coudersport, PA; and four grandchildren. He was predeceased by his wife, Jane in 1987; and a son, Roger James Biesel in 1985.
Funeral Services will be held Thursday, June 30, 2005 in the First United Presbyterian Church, Coudersport, PA. Graveside services will be held 10:00 a.m. Saturday, July 2, 2005 in Newtown Village Cemetery, Newtown. The Rev. Ann M. Beams will officiate. Military Rites will be accorded at the grave. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the Valley Presbyterian Church, 21 West Whisconier, Brookfield, CT 06804. Arrangements are entrusted to the Olney Funeral Home, Ulysses, PA.
Gordon (Chris) Griffin
Gordon (Chris) Griffin, age 89 of Southbury, died Saturday June 18th at the Danbury Hospital surrounded by his loved ones. He was the husband of the late Helen (O’Brien) Griffin, who died in 2000.
Mr. Griffin was born in Binghamton, NY on October 31, 1915, a son of the late Claude and Pearl Griffin. He moved to New York City in his teen years to become a musician. Mr. Griffin played trumpet for many session recordings, and with the Benny Goodman Orchestra. In 1948 he entered the television era on staff with CBS, NBC and most notable as first trumpet for the Ed Sullivan and Jackie Gleason shows. He spent time in his later years dictating his memoirs, “Sitting in with Chris Griffin” which was published two weeks before his death. This modest, brilliant, witty, wonderful, brave man died the way he lived, with quiet dignity and he will be missed by so many who loved and admired him.
Mr. Griffin is survived by three sons, Gerald G. Griffin of Danbury, Thomas P. Griffin of Glen Cove, NY and Paul L. Griffin of Jeffersonville, NY; two daughters, Eileen R. Relyea of Bayville, NY and Patricia E. Griffin of Jeffersonville, NY; seven grandchildren and four great-grandchildren and his companion Louise Baranger of Southbury. He was predeceased by his son, Dennis G. Griffin.
A Memorial Concert will be held in his honor in October.
Memorials may be made to: Local 802 Musician’s Emergency Relief Fund, 322 West 48th St., New York, NY 10036.
The Hull Funeral Home, Sixty Division Street, Danbury, is in charge of arrangements.
Salvatore Barbarotto
Salvatore Barbarotto, 63, of Loretto, PA, formerly of Danbury, died at his residence on June 23, 2005.
He was born June 21, 1942, son of the late Anthony and Jennie (Scalzo) Barbarotto. He grew up in Danbury on Miry Brook Road and was an admirer of planes and flying. He was passionate about his hobbies: clock repair, golf, and fishing and skiing. While in Danbury, he had worked for Data Control Systems and worked with NASA on the Apollo 11 program. He then went to work for the federal prison system at the FCI in Danbury and in 1996 retired from the FCI in Loretto, PA as the assistant factory manager.
Sal had served with the U. S. Marine Corps as a corporal and in 1984 received the first Commendation Management Improvement Awards Program, from then President Ronald Reagan.
Sal is survived by his daughters; Donna Barbarotto and her fiancé, Michael Kardash of Brookfield and Suzie Healy and her husband, Michael of St. Cloud, FL; granddaughters, Jessica and Lauren Healy; his sister, Sandra Doyle and her husband, Jay of New Milford and several nieces, nephews and cousins. In addition to his parents, he was predeceased by his sisters, Lucille Nejame and Antoinette Brought and his nephew William Brought.
A gathering of friends will take place at the Green Funeral Home, 57 Main St., Danbury on Thursday evening from 5 to 8 p.m. Graveside interment of his cremated remains will take place at St. Peter Cemetery, section #21 on Friday morning at 10:00 a.m.
Joseph P. Gowel
Joseph P. Gowel, age 82, formerly of Seymour and Danbury, entered into rest Saturday Oct. 22, 2005, in CT Hospice Branford. He was the husband of the late Catherine Perri Gowel.
Mr. Gowel was born in Danbury March 16, 1923, son of the late Stephen and Eva Gowel, and was a Seymour resident for 15 years previously living in Danbury. He was the Retired Assistant Fire Chief in Danbury for many years, and was a member of the Elks Club of Danbury. He was also a veteran of World War II serving in the U.S. Navy.
He is the loving uncle of Kathy Chiaro and her husband John, James Walter, and Charles Bogues, Betty Mae Ryan, and Walter McDonald and their families. He also leaves 3 stepdaughters, Gerri Malloy, Kathleen DiLella, and Maureen Pawlak. He is the grandfather of Paul, Charles, Catlin, and Edward. He is also survived by his former wife, Jean Pawlak Gowel.
He is predeceased by his 2 brothers, John and Steven Gowel; and 2 sisters, Helen Bogues and Mary Gowel.
Friends may greet the family on Monday from 5 to 7 p.m. in the Edward F. Adzima Funeral Home, 253 Elizabeth Street, Derby. On Tuesday his funeral will leave the funeral home at 8:45 a.m. for a Mass of Christian Burial at 9:30 a.m. in St. Joseph Church, Ansonia. Burial will take place at 2:00 p.m. in St. Peter Cemetery, Danbury.
At the request of the family and in honor of his many years of service as a firefighter, memorial contributions may be made to CT Burns Foundation, 21 Wentworth Street, Milford, CT 06460.
