United States High School Yearbooks by County
Nellie Jeffries Ritchie
Nellie Jeffries Ritchie, 78, of Fort Hill Road, New Milford, wife of the late Gordon R. Ritchie, died Tuesday at New Milford Nursing Home.
Mrs. Ritchie was born in Mebane, N.C. May 19, 1921, a daughter of the late Andrew and Pearl (Nash) Jeffries. Spent her early life in North Carolina, moving to New Milford upon her marriage in 1942.
She was a member of the Northville Baptist Church, New Milford.
She is survived by a son, Gordon Ritchie Jr. of New Milford; three sisters, Clarice Durrand of Holliswood, N.Y., Mildred Lanier of Greensboro, N.C. and Mary Enoch of Mebane, N.C.; several nieces and nephews.
Funeral Services on Saturday at 10 a.m. in Northville Baptist Church, New Milford.
Interment in Center Cemetery, New Milford.
Friends may call at the Lillis Funeral Home, 58 Bridge Street, New Milford on Friday from 7 to 9 p.m.
Contributions in her memory may be made to the American Cancer Society, 40 North St., Danbury, CT 06810.
Helen K. McGill
Helen K. McGill died Wednesday, January 5, 2000 in Texas.
Born November 24, 1907 in New York City, moved to Westport and graduated from Staples High School in 1926, Teachers College & Merrill Business School later worked for Alfred Broun Building Supply in Norwalk. Married Ambrose W. McGill on May 17, 1937 of New Milford and assisted Bud in his hardware and paint business. She was a member of the VFW Auxiliary and a former parishioner of Saint Francis Xavier Church. She died after a long illness resulting from a stroke.
She is survived by her husband, Ambrose William McGill; son, Gregory of New Milford and daughter, Susan; grandson, Brett and great-granddaughter, Jordyn.
Memorial services will be held at Saint Francis Church in New Milford on January 10 at 11 a.m. In lieu of flowers, contributions to Saint Francis Xavier Church, Park Lane, New Milford, CT 06776.
Arrangements by Lillis Funeral Home, 58 Bridge St., New Milford.
Mary Totten
Mary Totten, 70, of Mahopac, N.Y., died January 4, 2000 in Danbury. She was the wife of Kenneth R. Totten.
Born in Danbury November 7, 1929, she was the daughter of Archie and Mary Booth Smith. She graduated from Brewster High School. Mrs. Totten was a homemaker.
Mr. and Mrs. Totten were married September 15, 1946 in Brewster, N.Y.
A 16 year resident of Mahopac, N.Y., she had previously lived in Brewster, N.Y. and Carmel, N.Y.
Mrs. Totten was a life member of American Legion Post 1080 in Mahopac. She was an avid bingo player and a Gold Star Mother.
In addition to her husband, she is survived by four daughters, Linda Totten of Mahopac, N.Y., Margaret Kenny of Tamarack, Fla., Rhonda Morelli of New Fairfield and April Kovalec of Patterson, N.Y.; one brother, Peter (Smith) Wilson of Brewster, N.Y.; one sister, Ida Finney of Mahopac Falls, N.Y.; eight grandchildren and seven great-grandchildren. She was predeceased by a son, Kenneth R. Totten Jr. in 1968 in Vietnam.
Funeral Services will take place Saturday, January 8, 2000 at 11 a.m. in the Beecher Funeral Home with the Rev. Henry Maertens, officiating.
Burial will take place in the Raymond Hill Cemetery in Carmel, N.Y.
Friends may call at the funeral home on Friday from 2 to 4 and 7 to 9 p.m.
The Beecher Funeral Home, One Putnam Avenue, Brewster, N.Y is in charge of arrangements.
Howard Dwyer Stevens
Howard Dwyer Stevens, 84, of Bethlehem, a former Ridgefield native and longtime resident died January 3, 2000 at Waterbury Hospital. He was the husband of the late Marion (Scofield) Stevens.
Mr. Stevens was born in Ridgefield on October 18, 1915, a son of the late William and Harriet Dwyer Stevens. After graduating from Ridgefield High School, Mr. Stevens was employed at the Ridgefield Savings Bank until his retirement.
In 1968 Mr. Stevens moved to Florida, where they lived in Pompano Beach and then Ocala. Mr. Stevens then returned to Connecticut to live with his daughter in Bethlehem. He was an avid sportsman who also enjoyed ballroom dancing.
He was a member of the Morris Congregational Church and former member of the Jesse Lee Memorial United Methodist Church in Ridgefield.
Mr. Stevens is survived by two daughters, Sally Sossei of Bethlehem and Charlene Carboni of Newtown; three grandchildren, Sean Sossei of Northfield, Jeremy Sossei of Bethlehem and Jennifer Murphy of Woodbury. Three great-grandchildren also survive.
Funeral Services will be conducted Saturday at 3 p.m. at the Kane Funeral Home, 41 Catoonah St., Ridgefield with the Rev. Randy Day, Pastor of the Jesse Lee Memorial United Methodist Church, Ridgefield, officiating. Burial will be in Ridgefield Cemetery.
Friends may call on Saturday one hour prior to the service.
In lieu of flowers, contributions in Mr. Stevens memory may be made to the Visiting Nurse and Home Care, N.W., Inc., Federal Square, 24 Village Green Drive, Litchfield, CT 06759.
Rose Marie Tufano Benedetto
Mrs. Rose Marie Tufano Benedetto, 84, of Swanson Crescent, Milford, died Wednesday, January 5, 2000 at Connecticut Hospice in Branford. She was the beloved wife of the late Leonard J. Benedetto Sr.
Born in Stepney June 2, 1915, she was a daughter of the late Joseph and Immaculata Carbone Tufano. She was a longtime resident of Bridgeport before moving to Milford 10 years ago.
Mrs. Benedetto was a volunteer at Milford Hospital and a member of the Milford Senior Center.
She is survived by two sons, Leonard J. Benedetto Jr. and his wife, Georgiana of Danbury and Gerald A. Benedetto and his wife, JoAnn of Milford; a brother, John Tufano of Clinton; a sister, Marguerite Marsh of Danbury; five grandchildren, LeAnne Benedetto, Alyssa Benedetto, Jason Benedetto, Jacqueline Benedetto and Jessica Benedetto as well as several nieces and nephews. Mrs. Benedetto was predeceased by two brothers, Jack Tufano and Pat Tufano and a sister, Jennie Benedetto.
Funeral from the Cody-White Funeral Home, 107 Broad Street on the Green, Milford, on Saturday at 8:15 a.m. followed by a Mass of the Resurrection at 9 a.m. in St. Mary Church, Milford. Entombment in the Garden Mausoleum at St. Michael Cemetery, Stratford.
Friends may call on Friday from 4 to 8 p.m.
Memorials may be made to CT Hospice, 61 Burban Dr., Branford, CT 06405.
Theresa (Theberge) Patti
Theresa (Theberge) Patti, 70, of Beaver Brook Road, Danbury, died Wednesday, Jan. 5, 2000 at Danbury Hospital. She was the wife of the late David J. Patti.
Born April 19, 1930 in Danbury, Mrs. Patti was the daughter of the late Joseph and Rose (Guillemette) Theberge. She had worked for the former Armando's Restaurant in Stony Hill and in later years she was employed by the Dress Barn of Danbury. She was a member of both the Danbury and Bethel Senior Centers.
Mrs. Patti is survived by two daughters: Jeanne (Patti) Kane of Scranton, Penn. and Dianne (Patti) Teplick of Haddon Heights, N.J., a granddaughter: Sara Teplick, a sister: Lucille Lovell of Milford, Ind. and a brother: Raymond Theberge of Methuen, Mass. and several nieces.
A memorial service will be held at the Green Funeral Home, 57 Main St., Danbury Sunday afternoon at 1:30 p.m. Cremation will take place at the convenience of the family and Mrs. Patti's remains will be interred in St. Peter Cemetery in the spring. A gathering of friends and relatives will be held at the Green Funeral Home Sunday from 12 noon to the time of the service.
Friends are asked to please omit flowers and contributions in Mrs. Patti's memory may be made to the American Diabetes Association, 300 Research Park, Meriden, CT 06450.
Lee R. Phillips
The death of Lee R. Phillips, of Boulevard Drive, Danbury, occurred at the Danbury Hospital Wednesday. He was 65 years of age.
Born in Pawling, N.Y., Nov. 7, 1934, he was the son of Isidore Simonelli of Wilbraham, Mass. and the late Ada Osborn Simonelli. He lived in Fairfield as a young man and was a graduate of Roger Ludlowe High School, moving later to Monroe and to Danbury 20 years ago.
Mr. Phillips had been employed in the dairy industry for 35 years retiring in 1996 from Marcus Dairy of Danbury after 20 years of service. He had also worked for Beechmont Dairy, Bridgeport and Borden's Dairy.
He was a member of the Teamsters Union, Local #677 and of the Moose Lodge of Danbury where he had served as secretary and administrator for 15 years for which he was honored at a testimonial dinner given by the lodge.
Mr. Phillips loved his free time which he enjoyed with his grandchildren and family, he was an avid reader and cook and enjoyed his hobby raising tropical fish.
Besides his father he is survived by nine children, David Phillips of Ansoina, Richard Phillips and his wife Millie of Monroe, Bruce Phillips of Crozier, Va., Colette Remillard and her husband Steve of Newtown, Darlene Phillips of Ansonia, Christopher Phillips of Norwalk, Craig Phillips and his wife Amy of Sarasota, Fla., Brad Phillips of Monroe and Darcy Phillips of Ansonia, a sister, Sarah Gilbertie and her husband John of Wilbraham, Mass., his grandchildren Hunter Phillips, Nicole and Tyler Remillard, nieces Kim Nuzzo and her husband Mike, Laura Mack and her husband Jim, Christine Santamaria, his god daughter, and her husband Ray.
Funeral services will be held at the Cornell Memorial Home, 247 White St., Saturday morning at 11:15 a.m. with the Rev. Daniel Crockett officiating. Interment will be in St. Peter Cemetery. Friends may call at the Cornell Memorial Home Saturday morning from 9 to 11 a.m.
Contributions in his memory may be made to the Moose International, in support of their orphanage, Route 31, Moose Park, Ill. 60539.
Jens Kristiansen
Jens Kristiansen, 70, of Rural Route No. 3, Susquehanna, Penn., passed away on Wednesday, Jan. 5, 2000 at the Hershey Medical Center, Hershey, Penn., after an illness.
He was born in Lyngdal, Norway, the son of the late Karl Anton and Selma Kristiansen.
He is survived by his loving wife of 25 years, Elsie, five daughters and four sons-in-law: Kate and Liborio Montero of Dover Plains, N.Y., Lisa and Timothy Lippert of Wingdale, N.Y., Debbie and David Kirschbaum of Naugatuck, Conn., Tammy and Karl Faulkner of Danbury, Jody Kristiansen and fiancee William LaBoudy of Sherman, Penn. He is also survived by two brothers and sisters-in-law: Asbjorn and Lillian Kristiansen of New Fairfield, Harald and Lillian Kristiansen of Lyngdal, Norway and five sisters and four brothers-in-law: Marit Lie of Kristiansand, Norway, Astrid and Harald Lohndal, of Lyngdal, Norway, Solveig and Bard Maessel of Kristiansand, Norway, Bjorg and Knut Lindseth of Mandal, Norway, Margit and Kjell Ore of Farsund, Norway and 13 grandchildren, many nieces and nephews.
Jens moved from Norway to Brooklyn, N.Y. in 1956, then later moved to Connecticut where he worked as a carpenter. He was a member of the Sons of Norway, and the Troll Lodge of Croton Falls, N.Y. where he held various district and local lodge offices. He was past Chairman of the Board of LOV and current manager of LOV.
A memorial service will be held on Saturday, Jan. 8, 2000 at 3 p.m. at the Land of the Vikings, on Big Valley Road in Sherman, Penn. with Pastor James H. Hulihan officiating.
Donations can be made in memory of Jens Kristiansen to the "Land of the Vikings Playground Fund" and directed to the "Viking Ship" mailed to: Rannveig Werner, 18630 Chickadee Lane, Gaithersbury, MD 20879.
Martha Jane Cross Presnell
Martha Jane Cross Presnell, 56, of 346 Deck Valley Road, Bristol, Tenn., died Tuesday, Jan. 4, 2000 at Wellmont Hospice House.
She was a native of Bristol, Tenn., a graduate of Holston Valley High School and had lived in Newtown and Danbury for 22 years before moving back to the Bristol area.
She was the widow of James E. Presnell, faithful member of Bethel View Baptist Church and was an employee of Federal Pacific Transformers.
Survivors include special friend Ed Kerns of Bristol, Tenn., two step sons, Jim Presnell of Savannah, Ga. and Mark Presnell of Palm Harbor, Fla. and five grandchildren.
Funeral services will be conducted at 6 p.m. Thursday, Jan. 6, 2000 in the Weaver Funeral Home Chapel with the Rev. John Rayburn, Dewey Shaffer and the Rev. Allen Brummitt officiating. Burial will be Friday at 11 a.m. in Florence Union Cemetery. Honorary pallbearers are Charles Gates, Walter Thomas, Carl Durham, Charles Eades, Ed Moody, Billy Kerns, Rick Kerns, Jay Chesnut and Mike Martin. Friends will be received from 6 to 7:45 p.m. Thursday in the Weaver Funeral Home Chapel.
Geneva M. Esposito
Geneva M. Esposito, 75, wife of John J. Esposito of High Street Extension, Danbury, died at Mediplex of Danbury on Wednesday evening.
Mrs. Esposito was born in Danbury, Sept. 25, 1924, daughter of the late Daniel and Aleisha (Monroe) Green. She was a lifetime Danbury resident and a graduate of Danbury High School, class of 1942. As a young woman, Geneva had been active as a drum majorette with the former "Crown Drum Corp." She had worked at Sikorsky Aircraft in Bridgeport during World War II and later worked as a receptionist at the State of Connecticut, Department of Labor in Danbury. She had also been an avid swimmer and enjoyed participating in sports and horse back riding.
She was a member of St. Peter Church in Danbury.
In addition to her husband, Geneva is survived by three daughters: Nancy Mietelski of New Fairfield, Diane Felicissimo of Danbury and Deborah Fast of Appleton, WI, three sons: Michael Esposito, Daniel Esposito and John J. Esposito Jr., a sister, Alice Krupinsky of Danbury and Myrtle Beach, Fla., two brothers: Walter Green and Richard Green both of Danbury, 13 grandchildren, two great-grandchildren and several nieces and nephews. She was predeceased by a sister, Geraldine Green in 1985, by a brother, William Green in 1997 and by two grandsons, Mark Esposito in 1996 and Jesse Esposito in 1997.
A mass of Christian burial will be celebrated at St. Peter Church on Monday morning at 10:30 a.m. Burial will follow in St. Peter Cemetery. There will be no calling hours.
The Esposito family has requested that contributions in Geneva's memory be made to the St. Peter Church Restoration Fund, 104 Main St., Danbury, CT 06810 or to the Alzheimer's Association, 607 Main Ave., Norwalk, CT 06581 or to the Make A Wish Foundation, 940 White Plains Road, Trumbull, CT 06611. Green Funeral Home, 57 Main St., Danbury is in charge of arrangements.
John J. Gilbride
John J. Gilbride, 74, of 139 B Heritage Village died Thursday, Jan. 6, 2000 in his home. He was the husband of Jane (Moore) Gilbride. Mr. Gilbride was born Aug. 31, 1925 in New York City the son of the late Daniel and Catherine (O'Shaughnessy) Gilbride.
Mr. Gilbride was a World War II Navy veteran. Formerly of Queens, Mr. Gilbride was a retired New York City Police detective, intelligence division.
He was a member of the Detectives Endowment Association, and the NYPD Honor Legion. He was a member of the Holy Name Society of Manhattan, Brooklyn and Queens, Locally he was a member of the Pomperaug Golf Club, the Heritage Men's Club and St. Teresa's Churches' Men's Club.
Besides his wife he is survived by a son, John Gilbride, two daughters, Susan Kehoe of Danbury, Ann Marie Summers of Ridgefield, a brother Daniel Gilbride of Southbury, a sister Catherine Cowan of Phoenix and eight grandchildren.
Friends may call at the Southbury Funeral Home of Munson-Lovetere, 235 Main Street North Route 6 on Sunday, Jan. 8, 2000 from 2 to 4 p.m. and 6 to 8 p.m.
A funeral mass will be held at St. Teresa's Church in Woodbury on Monday, Jan. 10, 2000 at 10 a.m.
Burial is private. Memorial contributions may be made to Western CT Regional Hospice, 30 West St., Danbury, CT 06810.
