United States High School Yearbooks by County
Carl Yaunsem, 85, lifelong Washington resident
Carl Edwin "Luxcie" Yaunsem, 85, of 8 Cook St., Washington Depot, died Nov. 29 at his home. He was the husband of the late Edna May (Burns) Yaunsem.
Mr. Yaunsem was born Jan. 27, 1914, a son of the late William and Rosalie (Schmidt) Yaunsem. He was born and lived his entire life in Washington Depot.
He was a graduate of the former Washington High School and was employed for 40 years with the highway department of the town of Washington before his retirement. He had also been a caretaker and a gardener at several local estates.
In his early years he was a fly and ice fisherman and trapper. He had also been an avid stock car racing fan. In the early 1960s he attended races at 27 different tracks. He was a supporter of Shepaug Valley High School sports.
Mr. Yaunsem is survived by a son, David, and his wife, Tina; a daughter, Dorothy, and her husband, Robert Anderson; his companion of 30 years, Nettie Robinson of Tillson, N.Y.; six grandchildren; four great-grandchildren; and several nieces and nephews. He was predeceased by a brother, Joseph Yaunsem.
The Lillis Funeral Home of New Milford was in charge of arrangements.
Contributions in his memory may be made to the Washington Citizens Scholarship Foundation. P.O Box 243, Washington Depot, CT 06794, or to the Gage-Zumpf Post No. 87 American Legion, P.O 468, Washington Depot, CT 06794.
Wilfred 'Willie' Barney Jr., 49, lifelong town resident
Wilfred "Willie" F. Barney, Jr., 49, of New Milford died Nov. 24 at New Milford Hospital. He was the husband of Sharon A. Carlson Barney.
Mr. Barney was born in Torrington May 13, 1950, a son of Dorothy Jane Hallock Barney of New Milford and the late Wilfred F. Barney, Sr.
A lifelong New Milford resident, he worked as a truck driver for over 25 years, the last 15 years with Yonkers Contracting out of New Milford. He was a member of Local 677 Teamsters Union, loved to fish and was an avid bowler.
Besides his wife and mother, Mr. Barney is survived by a son, Michael W. Barney of Vermont; two daughters, Tammy Bourdeau of Milton, Vt., and Stacey Stockwell of Randolph, Vt.; three stepchildren, Timothy and Shannon Schipul, both of Waterbury, and Crystal Goodbo of New Milford; two sisters, Irma C. Ernhout of New Preston and Judy B. Yarochowicz of Millbrook, N.Y.; and three grandchildren, Erin, Ethan and Emma.
The Colonial Funeral Home in New Milford was in charge of the arrangements.
Anne L. Wiston, 42, ran child care service
Anne Lysbeth Wiston, 42, wife of Michael Wiston, president of Valley Marble and Slate Corporation, New Milford, died suddenly Nov. 1.
Remembered by family and friends as an upbeat, dynamic person, she ran a child care service for more than 17 years and had just received her associate's degree in early childhood development from Naugatuck College and was enrolled to start classes toward a bachelor's degree in January.
Mrs. Wiston had been fighting the disease Lupus for more than 30 years, and though she was frequently in severe pain, she never let it show or slow her down.
In addition to her husband, Michael, immediate survivors include a son, Michael David, 18; a daughter, Danielle Anne, 15; her parents, William and Julia (DeSerio) Kummerer; a brother; three sisters, and many nieces and nephews.
There was standing room only for her memorial service at the Kingdom Hall of Jehovah's Witnesses, which seated more than 300.
Kevin Moran, elder of the church, told of Mrs. Wiston's love and devotion to her family and to the church and explained her strong beliefs in life, in death and in Jehovah.
Condolences may be sent to the family at 15 Valmar Drive, New Milford, CT 06776.
Contributions in memory of Anne Wiston may be sent in care of the Lupus Foundation of America, 45 South Main St., Room 111, West Hartford, CT 06107.
Katherine Tanner-Curtiss, 41, area educator
Katherine J. Tanner-Curtiss, 41, of College Farms Road, Warren, died Nov. 27 at the University of Connecticut Health Center in Farmington. She was the wife of Gary M. Curtiss.
Mrs. Tanner-Curtiss was born Jan. 19, 1958, in Torrington, daughter of Loretta (Barry) Tanner and the late Willis H. Tanner.
She was a 1976 graduate of Wamogo High School. She received a bachelor's degree, magna cum laude, in 1979 and a master's degree, also magna cum laude, in 1983 from Central Connecticut State University. In 1992, she received a sixth-year certificate in school administration and supervision, summa cum laude, from Southern Connecticut State University.
Mrs. Tanner-Curtiss was a teacher at Wamogo High School from 1979 to 1992. In 1992, she was named assistant principal of Torrington Middle School, a position she held until her death. She also served as an assessor for beginning teachers in Connecticut.
Besides her husband of 20 years and her mother, she is survived by two sons, Ryan T. and Sean P. Curtiss, both of Warren; a brother, Barry Tanner of Pennsylvania; and a sister, Patricia Downes of Massachusetts.
The Rowe Funeral Home of Litchfield was in charge of arrangements.
Contributions in her memory may be made to the Curtiss Children Education Trust Fund, c/o The First National Bank of Litchfield, Marble Dale, CT 06777; UConn Health Center, c/o BMTU, 263 Farmington Ave., Farmington, CT 06030; or International Myaloma Foundation, 2129 Stanley Hills Drive, Los Angeles, CA 90046.
Lillian Budd, 87, mother of Washington woman
Lillian (Genung) Budd, 87, formerly of Stoddard Road, Bantam, died Nov. 23 at New Milford Nursing Home. She was the widow of Joseph H. Budd.
Mrs. Budd was born Jan. 9, 1912, in Bend, Ore., daughter of the late Charles H. and Marguerite (Zelip) Genung.
She is survived by two sons, Joseph H. Budd of Newark, Del. and Paul G. Budd of Huntington; two daughters, Margot B. Finnegan of Washington Depot and Deborah Allyn of East Canaan; 13 grandchildren; and eight great-grandchildren.
The Rowe Funeral Home of Litchfield was in charge of arrangements.
Contributions in her memory may be made to the Bantam Fire Co. Ambulance Fund, P.O. Box 456, Bantam, CT 06750.
Edward Trotta, 64, war veteran and electrician
Edward J. Trotta, 64, of 121 Route 39 South, Sherman, died Nov. 27 at Danbury Hospital. He was the husband of Marie (Contrata) Trotta.
He was born Feb. 26, 1935, in New Rochelle, N.Y., a son of the late James and Elda (Kurkin) Trotta. He graduated from New York schools.
Before his retirement in 1995, Mr. Trotta had worked for more than 40 years as an electrician with Union Local No. 501 in White Plains, N.Y.
He was a Navy and Air Force veteran of the Vietnam War.
Mr. Trotta was a member of Holy Trinity Church in Sherman, was active in Little League and coached the New Rochelle Giants football team.
Besides his wife, he is survived by a son, Rick, and daughter-in-law Michelle of Waterbury; two daughters, Andrea Trotta of Sherman and Jacki and son-in-law Kevin Flynn of Rye, N.Y.; a brother, James of New Fairfield; five grandchildren, Brittany, Pasquale, Vassilissa, Romina and Giovanni; and several nieces and nephews.
The Cornell Memorial Home of Danbury was in charge of arrangements.
Contributions in his memory may be made to the American Cancer Society, 372 Danbury Road, Wilton, CT 06897-2523.
Stella Palmer, 74, mother of area residents
Stella V. Palmer, 74, of Danbury, wife of the late Randolph Palmer, died Nov. 27 at Danbury Hospital.
She was born in Danbury Jan. 9, 1925, a daughter of the late Thomas and Mary Miss. She was a graduate of Danbury High School and a lifelong Danbury resident.
Mrs. Palmer is survived by four daughters, Barbara, Sandra and Deborah, all of Danbury, and Linda of New Milford; three sons, Ward of Danbury, Wayne of Sherman and Thomas of Merrimack, N.H.; four grandchildren, David, Jason, Laurie and Matthew of New Hampshire; four great-grandchildren; and several nieces and nephews.
The Green Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements. Funeral and burial services will be private.
Contributions in her memory may be made to the American Diabetes Association, Connecticut Affiliate, Inc., 300 Research Parkway, Meriden, CT 06450.
Veronica Wyllie, 74, was a Roxbury resident
Veronica (O'Donnell) Wyllie, 74, of 73 Sentry Hill Road, Roxbury, died Nov. 29 at New Milford Hospital. She was the wife of the late Charles W. Wyllie.
Mrs. Wyllie was born in Bridgeport Feb. 14, 1924, a daughter of John and Mary Jane (Denehey) O'Donnell. She moved to Roxbury from Fairfield in 1984.
Mrs. Wyllie is survived by two sons, Charles W. Wyllie Jr. of Roxbury and Timothy G. Wyllie of Oxford; a daughter, Susan J. Smith of Washington; a sister, Mary Jane Kiley of Trumbull; and four grandchildren.
The Lillis Funeral Home of New Milford was in charge of arrangements.
Contributions in her memory may be made to the Roxbury Ambulance Association, Roxbury, CT 06783.
Rose Vibbert, 72, mother of Gaylordsville woman
Rose C. (Tomanio) Vibbert, 72, of Brookfield and formerly a longtime Bethel resident, died Dec. 2 at Danbury Hospital. She was the wife of the late Albert H. Vibbert.
She was born Oct. 18, 1927, in Danbury, a daughter of the late John V. and Dina (Migiano) Tomanio.
Mrs. Vibbert was employed by Mario's Deli in Ridgefield and was also employed by the Bethel Board of Education as a service worker at Bethel High School before retirement. She was a member of St. Mary Church, Bethel.
Mrs. Vibbert is survived by three daughters, Lorna Studwell of Gaylordsville, Marion Messner of Denver, and Kim Vibbert of Laconia, N.H.; two sons, James Vibbert of Bethel and Michael Vibbert of Redding; a brother, Carlo Tomanio of Danbury; 11 grandchildren; two great-grandchildren; and several nieces and nephews.
The Green Funeral Home of Danbury was in charge of arrangements.
Contributions in her memory may be made to St. Mary Church, 24 Dodgingtown Road, Bethel, CT 06801, or to the Danbury Animal Welfare Society, P.O. Box 971, Danbury, CT 06813.
Eric Carlson, 71, member of New Milford VFW
Eric Hamilton Carlson, 71, of 17 Raleigh Court, Groton, died Dec. 5 at Lawrence & Memorial Hospital in New London.
Mr. Carlson was born Nov. 25, 1928, in Norwich, son of Harry W. and Natalie (Hamilton) Carlson.
He was an Army veteran of World War II. He worked as a chef at Holiday Inn in New London.
Mr. Carlson was a member of Veterans of Foreign Wars Andrew Mygatt Posts 1672 in New Milford and New London Lodge No. 360.
He is survived by three sons, Wayne Carlson of Groton, David Carlson of New Milford and Christopher Carlson of Boise, Idaho; two daughters, Susan Harvey of Southbury and Lorraine Buck of Virginia Beach, Va.; an adopted daughter, Lisa Bernard of Milford; a brother, David L. Carlson of Groton; a sister, Diane Haigh of East Lyme; six grandchildren; and one great-grandchild.
The Thomas L. Neilan & Sons Funeral Home in New London was in charge of the arrangements.
Contributions in his memory may be made to the American Cancer Society, 238 West Town St. North, Norwich, CT 06360; or to the American Heart Association, 5 Brookside Drive, Wallingford, CT 06492.
Harold F. McDermott, father of New Milfordite
Harold F. McDermott of 91 Briarcliff Ave., Waterbury, died Dec. 5 at his home. He was the widower of Margaret (Reidy) McDermott.
Mr. McDermott was born in Naugatuck, son of the late Harold and Mary (Karczmarski) McDermott. He was a resident of Waterbury for most of his life.
He graduated from St. Francis Grammar School in Naugatuck and Roosevelt High School in New York City. He was an Army veteran of World War II, serving as a sergeant in the Medical Corps at the Army-Navy Hospital in Germany.
Mr. McDermott worked as a steamfitter for Plumbers and Pipefitters Union Local 777 before his retirement. He was a communicant of the Immaculate Conception.
Mr. McDermott is survived by two daughters, Ellen McDermott of New Milford and Mary McDermott of Waterbury; a brother, Francis "Roy" McDermott of Oakville; and a sister, Dorothy Rose of Bolton.
The Murphy Funeral Home of Waterbury was in charge of arrangements.
