United States High School Yearbooks by County
William Francis II, 80, was lifelong New Milfordite
William Parsons Francis II, 80, of New Milford, died May 9 at his home.
Mr. Francis was born in Providence, R.I., Oct. 2, 1920, a son of the late Wallace L. and Kathleen (Bohlender) Francis. He was a lifelong resident of New Milford and a graduate of New Milford High School Class of 1938.
He was a veteran of World War II, serving in the United States Army Air Corps as a flight chief in the Armament Section of the 37th Pursuit Group of the 247th Base Unit at Albrook Field in Panama Canal Zone.
Mr. Francis received the Good Conduct Medal, the American Defense Service Medal, the American Theater Service Medal, 4 Overseas Service Bars, one Service Stripe, one Bronze Star and an American Defense Service Medal for his service.
Upon discharge from the service, he joined the Connecticut State Police Department, retiring after 23 years of service as a sergeant. He then began a second career as a title investigator, employed by attorney Paul L. Cornell of Washington, retiring last year.
He is survived by his son, William P. Francis III of Santa Barbara, Calif.; a daughter, Katherine A. Francis of Milford; a granddaughter, Kathleen E. Francis of Concord, Calif.; his companion of many years, Barbara S. Johnson of Washington; and his pets, Smudge and Sammy.
The Lillis Funeral Home, 58 Bridge St., New Milford, was in charge of the arrangements.
Contributions his memory may be made to New Milford VNA Hospice, 68 Park Lane Road, New Milford 06776, or to the New Milford Animal Welfare Society, 8 Dodd Road, New Milford 06776.
Cecil Bartley, 77, Masonic member in New Milford
Cecil S. Bartley, 77, of Meadowbrook Road, Brookfield, died May 4 at Vencor Hospital, Green Springs, Fla., He was the husband of G. Marie (Anderson) Bartley.
Mr. Bartley was born in Blane, Maine, Sept. 15, 1923, a son of the late Ralph and Josephine (Sanborn) Bartley.
He attended schools in Maine. He was an Army veteran of World War II and served in the Asian/Pacific campaign.
He was a title examiner for the state of Connecticut for 27 years and then for Pinney, Payne Law Offices for 10 years. He was a member of the Congregational Church of Brookfield, a member of St. Peter Lodge Masonic Order in New Milford and an avid gardener.
Mr. Bartley and his wife wintered in Daytona Beach, Fla., in recent years.
Besides his wife, he is survived by two sons, Russell of Tolland and Ronald of Cornwall, N.Y.; two daughters, Peggy Cocke and Joyce Pors, both of Charlottesville, Va.; seven grandchildren; two brothers, Elwood of Fuqueary, N.C., and Winston of Derby, Vt.; and several nieces and nephews.
The Brookfield Funeral Home, was in charge of arrangements.
Contributions in his memory may be made to the American Heart Association, 5 Brookside Drive, Wallingford, CT 06492.
Elizabeth Clarke, 85, mother of New Milford woman
Elizabeth K. Clarke, 85, of 10 Deerfield Ave., Danbury, died May 10. She was the wife of the late Kenneth Justin Clarke.
Mrs. Clarke was raised in Miry Brook, Danbury, and attended Miry Brook, the one-room schoolhouse. She graduated from the Danbury Normal College with a degree in teaching.
Throughout the 1960s and 70s, she managed the former S&H Greenstamp Store. She then worked, until her retirement at the age of 79, as a bookkeeper for G&G Distributors of Danbury.
She was a member of AARP and traveled worldwide. She attended St. Gregory the Great Roman Catholic Church and was a loyal participant in donating to the Building Fund Program.
She is survived by her daughters, Sandra and her husband Arthur Falls of Brookfield, Barbara Webb of New Milford and Marilyn and her husband Dr. Paul Lebwohl of Brewster, N.Y.; 11 grandchildren; and 20 great-grandchildren. She was predeceased by her father, Fred, and her mother, Edna (Banks) Kellogg.
The Adams and Cordovano Funeral Home in Carmel, N.Y., handled arrangements.
In lieu of flowers, the family would appreciate donations in her memory to the Win-Win Foundation for Disabled Children, c/o People’s Bank, 293 Greenwood Ave., Bethel, CT 06801.
George Vincent, 70, had been Public Works employee
George Vincent, 70, of 18 Fort Hill Road, New Milford, died May 10 after a long illness. He was the husband of Frances (Hill) Vincent.
Mr. Vincent was born May 11, 1930, in Dover Plains, N.Y., a son of the late George I. and Captolia (Murphy) Vincent.
He was a veteran of the Korean War. He was a resident of New Milford since 1952 and had retired from the New Milford Public Works Department after 20 years of service.
He was a member of Union Local 677 of Waterbury and a lifetime member of the Andrew B. Mygatt Post 1672 VFW. He enjoyed fishing, hunting, and camping.
Besides his wife, Mr. Vincent is survived by four sons; John of Manhatten, Kan., and James, George “Skeeter” and Elmer, all of New Milford; a daughter, Margaret Avery of New Milford; a brother, Warren Wilcox of Dover Plains, N.Y.; five sisters, Ida Ingrahm of Whiting, Vt., Naomi Glines of Tilton, N.H., Margaret Wilcox, Patsy Wilcox and Rose Bean, all of Dover Plains, N.Y.; three grandchildren; one great-grandson; five step-grandchildren; one step-great-granddaughter; several nieces and nephews; and some special friends. He was predeceased by two brothers and five sisters.
The Colonial Funeral Home of New Milford was in charge of arrangements.
Contributions in his memory may be made to New Milford Hospital Cancer Center, 21 Elm St., New Milford, CT 06776; or to the Hospice Home Care Program, 68 Park Lane Road, New Milford, CT 06776.
Maria Tyskiewicz, 80, mother of New Milford man
Maria (Uhercik) Tyskiewicz, 80, of 26 Hillside Ave., New Milford, died May 11 at her home.
Mrs. Tyskiewicz was born March 6, 1921, in Vienna, Austria, daughter of the late Martin and Maria Uhercik.
She came to this country in 1938 and lived in New York City before moving to New Milford in the late 1940s. She worked as a cook for many years.
She is survived by a son, Andrew Stoffa of New Milford; a daughter, Hilda Slodova of Czechoslovakia; two brothers in Czechoslovakia; and two grandchildren.
A memorial service will be held at a later date.
The Lillis Funeral Home of New Milford is in charge of arrangements.
James E. Brelling, 46, was a New Milford resident
James E. Brelling, 46, a resident of New Milford for the past 15 years, died May 10 at New Milford Hospital.
Mr. Brelling was born Feb. 4, 1955, in Oceanside, N.Y., a son of Edward and Mary (Homerston) Brelling of West Redding.
He was a self-employed landscaper.
Besides his parents, he is survived by a sister, Pamela Kelley of Danbury; two brothers, Donald of New Milford and Ronald of Bethel; three nieces; and two nephews. He was predeceased by a sister, Susan and a brother, Glen.
The Bouton Funeral Home of Georgetown was in charge of arrangements.
Domenico Gallo, 79, leaves relatives in New Milford
Domenico Gallo, 79, of 127 Woodglen Road, Waterbury, died May 14 at St. Mary’s Hospital. He was the husband of Dorothy (Webb) Gallo.
Mr. Gallo was born July 24, 1921, in Brooklyn, N.Y., son of the late Vincenvo and Lena (DeJulio) Gallo.
He had been a Waterbury resident for the past year, moving from Swansboro, N.C. He was a veteran of the Merchant Marines.
Besides his wife, he is survived by two sons, Donato and Phillip of Connecticut; two daughters, Judy Mazza of New Milford and Gigi Gallo of Danbury; five stepsons, William and Frank Johnston of Florida, David Johnston of New Milford, Robert Johnston of Waterbury and Dan Johnston of Stormville, N.Y.; a stepdaughter, Deborah Rabito of New Milford; five grandchildren; and 12 great-grandchildren. He was predeceased by a son, Vincent Gallo and a stepson, Ralph Johnston.
The Alderson Funeral Home of North Carolina was in charge of arrangements.
June Mitchell, 72, was Weicker aide and active in local politics
June A. Mitchell, 72, formerly of New Milford and most recently of Marco Island, Fla., died June 7 in Fort Lauderdale, Fla. She was the husband of Clarence C. Mitchell of New Milford and Marco Island.
She was born May 16, 1929, in Staten Island, N.Y. She married Mr. Mitchell in 1950.
Mrs. Mitchell moved to Danbury in 1949, and she and her husband moved to New Milford in 1958.
She was prominent in New Milford politics for many years. She served as the Republican town chairman for several years, was a member of the Charter Revision Commission, and served the community in a variety of other ways.
Mrs. Mitchell was the administrative aide for 20 years for Lowell Weicker, the first two when he was a Congressman and for 18 years when he was a U.S. Senator from Connecticut.
She was a delegate to many state conventions, as well as the 1972 Republican National Convention.
Besides her husband, Mrs. Mitchell is survived by a son, Greg C. Mitchell of Arlington, Va.; two daughters, Marian Mitchell of New Milford and Sally Mitchell of Marco Island; a brother, Jay McAvoy of New Milford; and three grandchildren, Matthew, Justin and Katie Rose Mitchell. She was predeceased by a sister, Carole A. Naves of Danbury.
Following cremation, a service took place June 13 at San Marco Catholic Church in Marco Island.
A memorial service will be held at a later date in New Milford.
Louis Hoelscher, 75, was father of New Milfordite
Louis F. Hoelscher, 75, of 32 Ball Pond Road East, New Fairfield, died June 10 at Rosary Hill Home, Hawthorne, N.Y.
Mr. Hoelscher was born Aug. 1, 1925, in Union, Mo., a son of Ferdinand and Mary Ellen (Mallioux) Hoelscher.
He served in the U.S. Navy during World War II, stationed on the USS Wichita.
Mr. Hoelscher was a painting and wallpaper contractor in Fairfield County for many years, retiring 11 years ago.
He was a member of International Brotherhood of Painters and Allied Trades Local No. 113 in Stamford.
Mr. Hoelscher lived in Ridgefield from 1948 to 1977. He also lived in Norwalk, Clearwater, Fla., and Ashford before moving to New Fairfield. He was a former member of St. Mary’s Church in Ridgefield.
He is survived by two sons, Louis and Paul, both of Ridgefield; five daughters, Patricia Botticelli of New Fairfield, with whom he made his home, Margaret DeForest of Ridgefield, Sheilah of Somerville, Mass., Rosemary of New Milford, and Ann-Marie of Danbury; two brothers, Herbert and Duvall, both of Missouri; three sisters, Rosemary Hooker and Helen Buhr, both of Missouri, and Marietta Hughes of Washington; three grandsons, Bradford, Gregory and Matthew Schalkham; and many nieces and nephews.
He was predeceased by his former wives, Juliana (Mahoney) Hoelscher and Dorothy (Young) Hoelscher; his son, Michael; and a sister, Anna Marie Gumpert.
A graveside service will be conducted today (Friday) at 10 a.m. at St. Mary’s Cemetery, Ridgefield.
The Kane Funeral Home of Ridgefield is in charge of arrangements.
Contributions in his memory may be made to Regional Hospice of Western Connecticut, 30 West St., Danbury, CT 06810.
Lillian Gell Vallerie, 65, mother of New Milfordite
Lillian Gell Vallerie, 65, a resident of Wilton, died at home June 12 after losing her battle with pancreatic cancer. She was the wife of Albert E. Vallerie Jr.
Mrs. Vallerie was born Dec. 1, 1935, in Woodside, Queens, N.Y., the daughter of the late John Gell and Lillian Weiss Gell. In her early years she relocated to Norwalk, where she met and married Albert E. Vallerie Jr.
After starting a family, they moved to Edison, N.J., where Mr. and Mrs. Vallerie raised four children. They resided there for 16 years.
The Valleries then moved to Wilton in 1972. She and her husband ran Equip Corporation, a storage company in New Milford, of which Mrs. Vallerie was vice president.
She was an active member of the Wilton Women’s Club and did volunteer work at Norwalk Hospital. Family members and friends said her charm and laughter uplifted the spirits of many patients.
Mrs. Vallerie also loved to travel. She and her husband made a point of experiencing a new destination every year.
In addition to her husband of 46 years, she is survived by her two daughters, Debra Vallerie-Wojtowicz of Bethel and Diane Improta of Brookfield; her two sons, Michael Vallerie of Ellicott City, Md., and Stephen Vallerie of New Milford; a brother, John J. Gell of Hillsboro Beach, Fla.; and 10 grandchildren, Megan Vallerie, Amy Vallerie, Sara Vallerie, Ellen Vallerie, Michael Vallerie Jr., Melissa Wojtowicz, Christopher Improta, Andrew Improta, Rachel Vallerie and Laura Vallerie.
Friends may call today (Friday) from 3 to 5 p.m. and from 7 to 9 p.m. at Magners Funeral Home, 12 Mott Ave., Norwalk.
A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated tomorrow (Saturday) at 10 a.m. at St. Aloysius Church, 40 Maple St., New Canaan. Interment will be private.
Contributions in her memory may be made to the Norwalk Hospital Whittingham Cancer Center, 24 Stevens St., Norwalk, CT 06856 or the Mid-Fairfield Hospice, P.O. Box 489, Wilton, CT 06897.
