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Ryan M. Fairchild
WALLINGFORD -- Ryan M. Fairchild, 26, of the Yalesville section of Wallingford, died Wednesday, June 12, 2002. He was the son of Donald M. and Joan L. Perugini Fairchild of Yalesville.
Ryan was born in Meriden, October 31, 1975, and was a lifelong Wallingford resident. He was a graduate of Mark T. Sheehan High School and Briarwood College with an Associates Degree, and had been employed by several insurance companies as a claims adjuster and office assistant. He was an avid fisherman and golfer, and a parishioner of Our Lady of Fatima Church.
Besides his parents, he is survived by his brother and sister-in-law, Daniel M. and Andrea Fairchild, of Meriden; his paternal grandmother, Mildred Taylor, of Jacksonville, FL, and several aunts, uncles, and cousins.
Relatives and friends are invited to attend a Mass of Christian Burial, Monday, at 10 a.m. in Our Lady of Fatima Church. Interment will be in St. John Cemetery
in Wallingford. THERE WILL BE NO CALLING HOURS. In lieu of flowers, gifts in his memory may be sent to Our Lady of Fatima Church, 382 Hope Hill Rd., Yalesville, CT 06492. Arrangements are under the direction of the Yalesville Funeral Home, 386 Main St., Yalesville, CT.
Florence L. Duefrane Phelan
WALLINGFORD -- Mrs. Florence L. Duefrane Phelan, age 87, of Rustic Oak Drive, Wallingford, formerly of Sebastian, Florida, died Wednesday, June 12, 2002, at Gardner Heights Healthcare Center, Shelton. She was the beloved wife of the late Walter H. Phelan Sr.
Daughter of the late Edward and Florence Walsh Duefrane, she was born December 1, 1914, in Waterbury, Connecticut. Mrs. Phelan was the City Clerk for the City of Sebastian, Florida, for 20 years until her retirement. She was a member of the Sebastian Civic Association; the St. Jude Bikeathoners in Florida; and a charter member of the Daughters of Isabella in Cheshire.
Mrs. Phelan is survived by a daughter, Florence S. Raczynski and her husband Francis of Southington; a son, Harold J. Phelan of Chatilly, VA; eight grandchildren; 14 great-grandchildren; and several nieces and nephews. She was predeceased by a son, Walter H. Phelan Jr.
Funeral from the Cody-White Funeral Home, 107 Broad Street on the Green, Milford, Saturday, June 15, 2002, at 8:15 a.m. followed by a Mass of Christian Burial at 9 a.m. in St. Mary Church, Milford. Interment in St. Mary Cemetery, Milford. Friends may call Friday from 5 to 8 p.m. Memorial contributions may be made to St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, 501 St. Jude Place, Memphis, TN 38105-1905 or the charity of one's choice.
Albert G. Sharp
BRISTOL -- Albert G. Sharp, 64, formerly of 110 Glen Eagle Dr., died on Wednesday evening, June 12, 2002, at Elim Park Baptist Home. Born in Smyrna Hills, Maine on September 18, 1937, the son of Avis Michell Sharp of Meriden and the late Thomas Sharp, he had resided in Bristol for over 10 years. Mr. Sharp had attended schools in Meriden. He was a member of the Sons of the American Legion.
Besides his mother, he is survived by two daughters: Debbie Plourde of Wallingford and Dawn Sherman of Higganum; one son: Wayne Sharp of Southington; eight grandchildren; one great-grandson; three sisters: Idella Lashway of Missouri, Patsy Craney of Vermont, and Mavis Gillespie of Meriden; also survived by several nieces and nephews.
The Funeral will be held Saturday, June 15, 2002, at 9 a.m. in the South Meriden Trinity United Methodist Church. Burial will be at the convenience of the family. Friends may call at the John J. Ferry & Sons Funeral Home, 88 E. Main St., Meriden, Friday from 4 to 8 p.m. Memorial contributions may be made to the American Diabetes Association, 300 Research Pkwy., Meriden, CT 06450.
Sophie Siedlicki Sheptock
WALLINGFORD -- Sophie Siedlicki Sheptock, 78, of Colonial Lane, Wallingford, beloved wife of John Sheptock, died Tuesday, June 11, 2002, at her residence.
Born in Wallingford, June 12, 1923, she was a daughter of the late Michael and Katherine Siedlicki, and had been a Wallingford resident for many years. Sophie was a World War II Veteran, having served in the Phillipines and Japan with the Army Nursing Corp. She had held many official positions in the John M. Siedlicki American Legion Auxiliary, which was named after her brother.
Besides her husband John, she is survived by her beloved daughter, Cynthia Sabota, of Wallingford, and her granddaughter, Heather Sabota, of East Haven. She was predeceased by her sister, Adele Hawley, and her three brothers, John, Stanley and Charles Siedlicki.
A Memorial Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at SS. Peter & Paul Church, 139 North Orchard St., Wallingford on Saturday, June 29, 2002, at 10 a.m. Interment will be private. THERE WILL BE NO CALLING HOURS. Gifts in her memory may be sent to the Leukemia Society of America, 300 Research Parkway, Suite 310, Meriden, CT 06450 or to the American Cancer Society, 538 Preston Ave., Meriden, CT 06450. Arrangements are under the direction of the Wallingford Funeral Home, 809 North Main Street Ext., Wallingford.
Lee J. Vitale
WALLINGFORD -- Lee J. Vitale of Wallingford, loving, devoted mother of Krista Vitale, died suddenly on June 12, 2002. Born in New Britain on Feb. 4, 1948, she was the daughter of the late Jean and Jack Noonan.
She was employed by Thomas Cadillac/Jaguar. Lee has touched many lives with her wit and charming ways. She was greatly loved and will truly be missed.
Besides her daughter, Krista Vitale, she is survived by a sister, Diane Vernale; brother-in-law, Joe Vernale; a niece and nephew, Paula and Joey Vernale; a great-niece, Tena; and a life-long, loving companion, Robert Kohary.
Funeral services will be held on Saturday at 3 p.m. in the chapel of the Kiniry Funeral Home, 60 Winter St., New Britain. Relatives and friends may call at the funeral home on Saturday from 2 to 5 p.m. with the funeral service being held at 3 p.m. Burial will be at the convenience of the family. In lieu of flowers, gifts in her memory may be made to St. Jude's Children's Research Hospital, 501 St. Jude Place, Memphis, Tennessee 38105. Response of donations may be sent to Krista Vitale, 13 Laurel View Park, Wallingford, CT 06492.
Barbara Heriot Zernitz
WALLINGFORD -- Barbara Heriot Zernitz, 69, of Tremper Drive, Wallingford, wife of the late Lawrence Zernitz, died Wednesday, June 12, 2002 in New Haven.
Barbara was born Aug. 8, 1932, in New Haven, daughter of the late Francis W. and Julia (Collins) Bendel. Prior to her retirement in 1999, she had worked at Pratt and Whitney in North Haven for 25 years.
She was the beloved mother of Paul A., Brian F., Eric J. Heriot, all of Wallingford, and Gary P. Heriot and his wife, Diane, of Guilford; sister of Francis W. Bendel of New Haven and Robert Bendel of Meriden; grandmother of Stephanie and Heather Heriot of Wallingford, and Justin and Ian Heriot of Guilford. Also survived by her beloved pets Charlie Brix and Sneakers. Predeceased by two brothers, David and John Bendel, and a sister, Mary "Patty" McCormick.
The funeral will be held at 9:30 a.m. Saturday, June 15, from Clancy Funeral Home, 43 Kirkham Ave., East Haven with a Mass of Christian burial at 10 a.m. in St. Clare Church. Burial will be in East Lawn Cemetery. Calling hours are from 4 to 8 p.m. Friday , June 14, at the funeral home
Helena G. Andrews
MERIDEN -- Helena G. Andrews, 97, of 380 Crown St., formerly of Brewster, N.Y., and New Port Richey, Fla., died Friday, June 14, 2002, at the Curtis Home in Meriden. She was the wife of the late Max Andrews.
She was born Dec. 16, 1904, in Metz, Germany, a daughter of the late Wilhelm and Anna Donet Grotzki. She was a member of the Elkettes.
She is survived three nieces, Gladys Griffith and Janet Sawallich, both of Wallingford, and Norma Cospito of Hartford. She was predeceased by a nephew, Walter Sawallich Sr.
A private graveside service will be held at In Memoriam Cemetery, Wallingford. There are no calling hours. If friends so desire, gifts in her memory made be sent to the Curtis Home, 380 Crown St., Meriden, CT 06450. The B.C. Bailey Funeral Home, 273 S. Elm St., Wallingford, is in charge of arrangements.
Dorothy Benson
SOUTHWICK, MA. -- Dorothy (Godfrey) Benson, 76, of Southwick, died Thursday, June 13, 2002, at home.
Born Aug. 10, 1926, in Bridgeport, CT, she had been a resident of the area since 1954. She was an employee of Command Aircraft in Bloomfield, CT, and was also a bartender and women's auxiliary member of the Southwick VFW Post 872.
Survived by her three sons, Robert Benson of Meriden, Charles Benson of Winchester, NH, and Brian Benson of Glouschester, VA; one daughter, Norma Magni of Granville; nine grandchildren; and two great-grandchildren. Her son, the late Walter Benson, died in 1956. Her brother, Clarence Godfrey Jr. of TX, and three sisters, Shirley Catuzzi of CT, Alma Klimuck of AZ, and Mabel Lammi of IN, also survive her.
Calling hours are from 6 to 8 p.m. Tuesday, June 18, at the Southwick Forastiere Funeral Home, 624 College Highway. An 11 a.m. graveside service will be held Wednesday, June 19, at New Cemetery. Memorial donations may be made to the Southwick Police Association, P.O. Box 494, Southwick, MA 01077.
Linda A. Merlini
SOUTH MERIDEN -- Linda Andreini Merlini, 51, of South Meriden, wife of Eugene W. Merlini, died Thursday evening, June 13, 2002, at Masonic Health Care Center after a brief illness.
Born July 27, 1950, in Meriden, the daughter of Angelo and Margaret Vecchitto Andreini, she had resided in Meriden her entire life. She had attended local schools and was a 1968 graduate of Orville H. Platt High School. Mrs. Merlini was employed as a teacher's assistant in the pre-school program at Hanover Elementary School for some 15 years. She was a dedicated wife, mother and aunt who always placed her family as the first priority in her life.
Besides her beloved husband of 30 years and her parents, she is survived by one daughter, Sarah Jean Merlini of Meriden; one sister, Diane Donaluk of West Hartford; two nieces, Tracy Scutari and her husband, Rick, of Wethersfield, and Betsy Pliakas and her husband, John, of Rhode Island; a sister-in-law, Joyce Merlini of Wethersfield; a mother-in-law, Ruth Merlini of Meriden; two great-nieces, Taylor and Mackenzie Scutari of Wethersfield; also her unwavering friends at Hanover Elementary School.
The funeral will be held at 9:15 a.m. Tuesday, June 18, from the John J. Ferry & Sons Funeral Home, 88 E. Main St., Meriden, and at 10 a.m. in Holy Angels Church. Burial will be in Sacred Heart Cemetery. Friends may call from 4 to 8 p.m. Monday at the funeral home. In lieu of flowers, contributions in her memory may be made to the Cancer Care Partnership, MidState Medical Center, 435 Lewis Ave., Meriden, CT 06451.
