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Katherine Nally Lounsbury, Ridgefield native
Katherine Lounsbury, 94, of Danbury, wife of the late Thomas Lounsbury Sr., died at the Bethel Health Care Center on July 12, 2005.
She was born in Ridgefield July 15, 1910, daughter of the late John and Bertha Parks Nalley. She grew up in Ridgefield and moved to Danbury as a young woman.
Mrs. Lounsbury is survived by five grandchildren; three great-grandchildren; two great-great-grandchildren; and several nieces and nephews. A son and daughter and several brothers and sisters died before her.
Funeral services will take place at the Green Funeral Home, 57 Main Street, Danbury, Friday, July 15, at 11. Burial will take place in St. Peter Cemetery, Danbury. Friends may call at the Green Funeral Home on Friday after 9:30.
Mo Tupper, patisserie founder
Maureen “Mo” Tupper, founder and owner of Patisserie des Anglaises on Main Street, died on July 12, 2005, at Danbury Hospital. “After a courageous battle against cancer, enduring many months of treatment in both Boston and Danbury, Mo did not give up on life easily,” her family said.
Born on Dec. 25, 1946, in Penge, Kent, England, she was the daughter of Gordon and Violet Barber of London, England.
After school, she joined Compton Partners on Charlotte Street in London, where she rose to the position of art buyer. When the company was acquired by Saachi and Saachi, the world’s largest advertising agency, she continued her successful career and was considered to be one of the company’s top art buyers.
Ms. Tupper left in 1981 to marry and relocate to the United States. After living in Manhattan for a short time, the couple moved to Haviland Road, Ridgefield, in late 1981.
After the birth of her two children, Ms. Tupper became an enthusiastic and devoted mother. “She enjoyed the friendship of many, and her front door was as open as her heart,” her family said.
“She never had a bad word to say about anyone,” a close friend added. “She has been a fixture in our lives for so long.”
“She loved her beautiful English garden, which reflects the energy with which she approached life and the beauty she brought to it. She never wasted a minute and was a caring and reliable friend. She was an active participant in town and a tireless volunteer for many agencies. She also loved to travel in Europe with her children and friends.”
With Tracey Baines in 2000, Ms. Tupper started the Patisserie des Anglaises, a popular pastry and coffee shop on Main Street.
Ms. Tupper is survived by her parents, her daughter, Chloe, her son, Charles, and her partner, Rene Bindschedler. “She leaves many friends who rejoice that they knew her and will miss her very deeply,” her family said.
Family and friends will gather at the Kane Funeral Home, 25 Catoonah St., today, Thursday, July 14, from 4 to 7 p.m. All will be welcome. Burial will be private.
In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made in her memory to Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, 10 Brookline Pl. W., 6th Floor, Brookline, MA 02445-7226, or Danbury Hospital Praxair Cancer Center, 24 Hospital Ave., Danbury, CT 06810.
Anna M. Franceschini, 87, caterer
Anna Marchison Franceschini of Ridgefield, who was a well-known caterer in town, died July 9, 2005, at Bethel Health Care Center. She was 87 years old, the widow of Bruno Franceschini and the mother of the late Peter Franceschini.
Mrs. Franceschini was born in Port Chester, N.Y., on May 10, 1918, a daughter of the late Peter and Salomia Perich Marchison.
She spent much of her youth in Georgetown, and in her early years was employed at Remington Arms in Bridgeport and later at the former Gilbert and Bennett Wire Mill in Georgetown. She had lived in Ridgefield for more than 50 years, for much of that time on Craigmoor Road. She and her husband worked on the nearby estate of Anne S. Richardson, now Richardson Park. Mr. Franceschini was the estate's farmer.
In the 1960s, her husband took over Luigi's Restaurant in Branchville, now 59 Bank Street, and Mrs. Franceschini worked there. Later, she became well known in the area as a caterer, and had lived on Lawson Lane in Casagmo.
She was a member of St. Mary's Church and the Italian American Ladies Mutual Aid Society.
Mrs. Franceschini is survived by a sister, Mary Archieri of Danbury, and several nieces, nephews, grandnieces and grandnephews.
Besides her parents, husband and son, seven siblings died before her: Andrew Marchison, Mary Straiton, Helen Montanari, Joseph Palochik, Steven Palochik, and John Palochik.
A Mass of Christian Burial was celebrated Wednesday in St. Mary's Church.
Burial was in St. Mary's Cemetery, Ridgefield.
Contributions in her memory may be made to the Visiting Nurse Association, 90 East Ridge or to the Ridgefield Fire Dept. Ambulance Fund, 6 Catoonah Street both of Ridgefield 06877.
The Kane Funeral Home was in charge of arrangements.
Karen Kenefick, worked at restaurants
Karen M. Kenefick of West Redding died on Monday, July 4, 2005, at her home after a two-year battle with cancer. Mrs. Kenefick, 57, was the widow of C. Michael Kenefick, who died in 1998 and was one of the owners of Touchstone's, a former restaurant in Ridgefield.
Mrs. Kenefick was born in Trenton, N.J., on Feb. 26, 1948, a daughter of the late Joseph and Stella Szczepanski McCarthy. She was an active member of Sacred Heart Church in Georgetown and had been associated with the Lonetown Pony Club.
Mrs. Kenefick had worked for many years at Touchstone's, located where Koo is now, and had in more recent years been a waitress at the former Mirabella restaurant on Danbury Road.
She is survived by her children, Christopher M. Kenefick and Shannon M. Kenefick of West Redding; a sister, a brother, and two nieces and two nephews.
A Mass of Christian Burial is being celebrated today, Thursday, July 7, at Sacred Heart Church in Georgetown. Burial is to follow in Umpawaug Cemetery.
Contributions in Mrs. Kenefick's memory may be made to Sacred Heart Church, P.O. Box 388, Georgetown, CT 06829 or to M.S.K.C.C., c/o Phelps Memorial Hospital, 777 North Broadway, Suite 102, Sleepy Hollow, NY 10591.
Catherine Church, active in community
Catherine S. Church, who had been a manager for the Chamber of Commerce, died peacefully on Saturday, July 2, 2005, at New York-Presbyterian Hospital of Columbia University after what her family said was a brief and courageous battle with brain cancer. She was 54 years old and the wife of S. Thomas Church Jr.
Born Dec. 25, 1950, in Baltimore, Md., Catherine 'Cathy' Church was the daughter of the late Frances and F. George Sindall II, both of Baltimore.
She attended Notre Dame Preparatory School in Towson, Md., where she graduated in 1968. She received a degree in education from Towson State College in 1972.
She met S. Thomas Church Jr. on a blind date, and the two were married
on Jan. 6, 1973, in the Immaculate Conception Church in Towson.
After their marriage, the couple moved to Poughkeepsie, N.Y. Mrs. Church first worked at IBM at East Fishkill, N.Y., where her husband had been employed since 1968. After her children were born, the family moved to Connecticut. Mr. Church's job at IBM led the family to Lexington, Ky., for three years, and they moved to Ridgefield in 1988.
Mrs. Church was well known throughout the Ridgefield community. As office manager of Drs. Phillips, Cowin and Lambert's orthodontist practice for about 10 years, Mrs. Church greeted patients and their families with a warm smile. As executive director of the Couri Foundation, she was responsible for organizing summer and Christmas programs for underprivileged children, activities for the senior center in Bangor, Maine, and entrepreneurship programs for MBA students. Most recently, Mrs. Church was the operations and membership manager at the Ridgefield Chamber of Commerce, where she welcomed visitors to Ridgefield and shared her knowledge about the town she loved.
Mrs. Church spent most of her free time caring for her family. She also volunteered with the National Charity League, a mother-daughter volunteer organization, from its beginnings here six years ago, and had also been active in PTAs over the years. She remained close to her National Charity League friends through 'Sustainers,' a group established to maintain the NCL connection after the daughters finish high school.
'Cathy will be sadly missed, but lovingly remembered,' a close friend said.
'Cathy's friendly smile, calming personality, and delightful sense of humor affected many of the people with whom she came in contact,' the family said. 'Aside from being a wonderful wife and devoted mother, Cathy was a shining example of a true friend to those who came to know and love her.'
Besides her husband, Mrs. Church is survived by a daughter, Kelly, of New York City; a son, Brian,and daughter-in-law, Cara, of Newton, Mass.; two brothers, F. George Sindall III of Palm Springs, Calif., and Scott Sindall of Lutherville, Md., and his sons Andrew and Ethan.
A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated on Friday, July 8, at 1 p.m. at St. Mary's Church.
The family will receive friends at the Kane Funeral Home, 25 Catoonah Street, today, Thursday, July 7, from 5 to 8.
Contributions in Cathy's memory may be made to the Brain Tumor Research Fund at New York-Presbyterian Hospital of Columbia University. Donations should be made payable to: Columbia University, Memo: 'In Memory of Cathy Church.' Please send donations to Ruchey Sharma, Department of Neurological Surgery, 710 West 168th Street, Room 431, New York, NY 10032.
The family offers its 'sincere appreciation and gratitude to their supportive family and friends and to the doctors and staff of Danbury and New York-Presbyterian Hospital of Columbia University.'
Leo Lardie, engineer, volunteer
Leo Joseph Lardie, a retired engineer who was an active and honored member of the Lions Club, died on Tuesday, June 28, 2005, at his home. He was 82 years old.
Mr. Lardie had been active in the Ridgefield area for the past 29 years. In May he was recognized by the Ridgefield Lions Club as the recipient of the Knight of the Blind award for his many years of service. He was also honored by the Lions Club International Foundation as a Melvin Jones Fellow for dedicated humanitarian service.
Mr. Lardie was born on Aug. 2, 1922, in Sault Ste. Marie, Mich., a son of George and Margaret Lardie. He grew up in Niagara Falls, N.Y., with two sisters, Esther Ann Kelly and Mary Ruth Morse, and three brothers, the Rev. Bruce Lardie, O.Carm., Howard Lardie, and Warren Lardie.
In 1943 he graduated from the University of Notre Dame with a degree in electrical engineering and went on to serve as a lieutenant (j.g.) in the U.S. Navy aboard the USS Selfridge during the Pacific campaign in World War II. He received his discharge in 1946 and moved to West Virginia, where he began his career with the Union Carbide Corporation.
In 1948 he married
Ruth Laura Wylie. In 1949 he was transferred with Union Carbide to Ashtabula, Ohio, where the couple raised eight children. After the sudden death of Mrs. Lardie in 1975, Mr. Lardie married
Elizabeth Chaffee and moved to Ridgefield, where he continued to work for Union Carbide until his retirement in 1985.
Over the years, Mr. Lardie was active in many community activities including the Knights of Columbus and the Lions Club. The Lardies hosted children of women inmates at the Bedford Hills Correctional Institute so they could visit their mothers.
They were also active in FISH, Friends in Service Here, which provides rides to people, particularly the elderly or infirm, who cannot drive.
He was also an avid duplicate bridge player, and an active member of St. Elizabeth Seton Church in Ridgefield.
Besides his wife, Mr. Lardie is survived by eight children, William Michael and his wife, Cheryl, Sister Jean Tobin Lardie, Stephen Joseph and his wife, Joanne, David Leslie and his wife, Jo-Ann, Mary Michele Melchior and her husband, Dan, Edith Ann Rose and her husband, Timothy, James Patrick and his wife, Tirzah, and John Terrance and his lifetime partner, Tom McKenna, and 16 grandchildren.
A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated on Friday at 10:30 in St. Elizabeth Seton Church. Burial will follow in St. Mary's Cemetery.
Friends will be received in the Kane Funeral Home, 25 Catoonah Street, on Thursday (today) from 5 to 8.
Memorial donations may be made to St. Elizabeth Seton Church Capital Improvement Campaign (520 Ridgebury Road, Ridgefield, CT 06877) and the Visiting Nurse Association of Ridgefield (90 East Ridge, Ridgefield, CT 06877).
Arrangements are being handled by Kane Funeral Home in Ridgefield.
Margarete Taeger, active volunteer
Margarete Hedwig Taeger of Ankeny, Iowa, a former Ridgefielder who was honored nine years ago for her church and community work here, died Tuesday, June 28, 2005, at Mill Pond Health Center in Iowa after a long illness. She was 87 years old.
Mrs. Taeger was born Nov. 21, 1917 in Berlin, Germany, the daughter of Dr. Ernst August Martin and Emilie Helene Barth Martin. She received her bachelor of arts degree from Carlton College in Minnesota and had served as director of a senior center in Agawam, Mass.
She married
Hanns H. Taeger on Dec. 20, 1941, in Potsdam, Brandenburg, Germany. She was active in church work, especially at St. Andrew's Lutheran Church in Ridgefield.
In 1996, Mrs. Taeger was named one of three winners of the annual Connecticut Young at Heart awards, which recognizes seniors who live active, healthy lives. She had been nominated by the Rev. John Kjoller, then pastor of St. Andrew's, for her 'unselfish service to her church and community.'
Mrs. Taeger had been a volunteer at Hospice, worked with Literacy Volunteers and helped Meals on Wheels. At St. Andrew's, she was a Stephen minister, providing counseling for church members. She also served on the church's property committee.
Mrs. Taeger also enjoyed quilting, sewing and gardening.
Survivors include a daughter, Ina Fuchs; two sons, Dr. Ernest Taeger and Ralph Taeger; four grandsons, Thomas Fuchs, Peter Fuchs, Andrew Fuchs and Stephan Taeger; five granddaughters, Karin Fuchs, Catherine Arnsperger, Elizabeth Schloma, Emily Taeger and Caroline Taeger; five great-grandsons, Evan Fuchs, Matthew Fuchs, Ian Fuchs, Alexander Fuchs and Michael Fuchs; three great-granddaughters, Megan Fuchs, Lucy Schloma and Madeline Schloma; and two sisters, Helene Von Bredow of Laurel, Md., and Doris Schieckel of North Branford; a son-in-law, Dr. Martin Fuchs, and two daughters-in-law, Susan Taeger and Diana Taeger. She was preceded in death by her husband, a grandson SP Erich Taeger, U.S. Army, and a great-granddaughter, Abigail Arnsperger.
Arrangements were handled by the Cremation Society of Eastern Iowa.
Joan Ryff, 72, longtime bowler
Johanna 'Joan' Ryff of Ridgefield, who had been an active bowler for many years, died on Sunday, June 26, 2005, at Danbury Hospital. She was 72 years old and the wife of Albert Ryff.
Mrs. Ryff was born in Jersey City, N.J., daughter of Walter and Mildred Hillman Ryff. She attended New Jersey schools.
While she had lived in a number of places including Warren Township, N.J., Hyde Park, N.Y., Playa Del Ray, Calif., Weston, and Barrington, Ill., she came to Ridgefield in 1976 and 'considered it to be her real home.'
Mrs. Ryff was a dedicated bowler for many years. Her interest in bowling began when she worked at Mack Truck Company in Plainfield, N.J., and continued in various locations where she lived, including 24 years on teams in the Ridgefield area.
Mrs. Ryff was an accomplished knitter and did many cross-stitch works as well.
She was a member of the local AARP Chapter.
Besides her husband of 51 years, Mrs. Ryff is survived by a brother-in-law, John Ryff, and his wife Margaret; a sister-in-law, Kathleen Noto-Ryff, as well as several cousins.
Funeral services will take place on Thursday at 11:30 in the Kane Funeral Home.
Burial will follow in St. Mary's Cemetery.
In lieu of flowers, contributions in her memory may be made to the Healing Hearts Program, Regional Hospice of Western Connecticut, 405 Main Street, Danbury, CT 06810.
