All Obituaries

Janice Chapman Kirby died peacefully in her home on October 17th surrounded by family. Jan was born in Bridgeport, Connecticut on June 19th, 1934, daughter to the late Otis and Elinor Chapman. She attended Branford High School and Endicott College. While working at Yale University, she met John B. Kirby whom she later married. Early in their marriage, they moved to Japan for a year which led to a lifelong appreciation of Japanese art and culture. Jan was an avid reader. She loved British...

Dr. Ella Graham Massie Marks died peacefully at her home on October 14, 2020, in Guilford, CT. Ella lived a magnificent life of selfless service and love. She was born in Lynchburg, VA, in 1929 and grew up on Lone Jack Farm with her four brothers and loving parents. At 17, she studied dance at Jacob’s Pillow in the Berkshires of Massachusetts and met her lifelong teacher and mentor Margaret Craske (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Margaret_Craske). In 1947, at the age of 18, Ella moved by...

              Cathleen Dugan Riley, age 97, passed away on August 24, 2020.  She graduated from Smith College as a member of the Class of 1944, and she earned her Masters Degree in Linguistics from Columbia University in 1945.  Cathy worked as a fashion model for Conover Agency in New York City, joined the USO near the end of World War II, and served the Troops from Alaska to...

JOAN KRATZER MONTGOMERY   Joan Montgomery died peacefully at Evergreen Woods in North Branford, CT on August 21, 2020. Born in New Haven on May 27, 1930, Joan was the eldest child of Ralph Keeler Montgomery and Olive Wolfe Montgomery. Her family had deep roots in New Haven, dating back to 1631 when her 9th great-grandfather Thomas Trowbridge arrived from England. Joan attended the Day School in New Haven and graduated from Wellesley College in 1952. She returned to New Haven to work...

Terry (Teresa) Fidler, of Guilford Ct. loving wife of George E. Fidler, passed away on Monday, August 10, 2020. She was born in England September 13, 1941 to the late Teresa and Edward Rourke. She is survived by her daughter Julie Fidler Trego, her husband Mike and three grandchildren, Brandon, Evan and Alexandra of Newburyport, Massachusetts, her sister, Kate and husband Keith of England, brother-in-law, Douglas and his wife Janice of France, and extended family in England. She was...

  Elizabeth Mary Pugh (NEE Campbell), 91, passed away August 1, in her home in Guilford, CT.  Elizabeth is predeceased by her parents, John Law Campbell and Elizabeth Burgess Campbell, her sister Rebecca Louise Montan, her brother, John Law Campbell, Jr., her daughter, Jennifer Pugh of New Haven CT. Elizabeth, born October 10,1928 grew up in Montclair, NJ.  She graduated from Smith College with a major in Political Science in 1950.  That was also the year she married...

George Baton Carpenter, Jr. age 91, died August 1, 2020 after a stroke. George was born in New Haven, CT to George B. Carpenter, Sr., and Dorothy Wartman.  He attended Hopkins School and was a 1951 graduate of Amherst College. He is survived by his children, George III, Robert, Sarah and Susan, their spouses, as well his ten grandchildren and seventeen great-grandchildren, who all called him "PopPop". George is also survived by his beloved partner of 33 years, Judy, her...

  Joan (Nancy) Carey, 69 of New Haven died June 5, 2020. She was predeceased by her husband Raymond Wilson and her son Shannon Wilson. Born in Ansonia October 23, 1950 she worked for many years at Whitney Center in Hamden. She leaves her sister Louise Carey of Derby, a brother Andrew Breda of Oxford and her cousin Sharon Alderman. She also leaves many nieces and nephews and close friends. A celebration of her life will be held at a later date. The Hawley Lincoln Memorial, 424 Elm St....

  Natalie Stagg Brooks, 91, of Woodbridge, beloved wife for over 70 years to Peter M. Brooks, passed away peacefully on June 5, 2020. In addition to her husband, Peter, she is survived by her daughters Karen Berchem (late David) of Woodbridge and Lauren Overlock (late Lester) of Cheshire;  granddaughters Sara Berchem Kelley (Raymond) and Jennifer Brooks Amato (Adam);  great granddaughters Brooke and Elisabeth Kelley; sister Betty Golebiewski (late Stanley); brother Alan Stagg...

Irene Lee Cornish, a retired Superintendent of Stratford Schools and an Attorney, died Sunday, May 31st following a lengthy illness.   In addition to her extensive career as a school administrator and attorney in CT and Chelsea, MA, she loved fashion, art, literature, traveling and exploring different cultures. Irene especially loved Puerto Vallarta, Mexico where she visited often with her daughter and sister. One thing people agree on is that Irene stopped at nothing to inspire...