Miscellaneous Fairfield County, CT Obituaries

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Saul Ripps
2002-02-08
Mr. Saul Ripps of Pompano Beach, Fla. died on Feb. 6, 2002.

Mr. Ripps was born Dec. 9, 1920 in Brooklyn, N.Y., the son of Jacob and Dora Ripps. He received a Bachelor of Arts degree from Brooklyn College in 1942, and served in the Army from 1942 to 1946. He resided in New Haven and Woodbridge, Conn. most of his life. He was the husband of the late Florence Fishman Ripps, his beloved wife of 60 years.

Mr. Ripps was past President of the Elm Lodge of B’Nai Brith, and served on the Executive Board of Probus. He was active on the Boards of the United Jewish Appeal of B’Nai Jacob Synagogue and the Antidefamation League of B’Nai Brith. He was a Trustee of Hillel at Yale, and taught Property Management at Quinnipiac College. He built Ripps Realty, which, with over 4500 units, was the largest property management company in the state of Connecticut, and he introduced computerization to that industry.

His son, Dr. Ronald Ripps of Bridgewater, and grandchildren Noah Harrison Ripps and Rebecca Ripps of Boston, survive him. His son-in-law Harry Kaloides of Hamden and grandchildren Adam and Brent Kaloides also survive him.

Should friends desire, contributions may be made to the Lynda Kaloides Fund at Hamden Hall Preparatory School in Hamden, Conn.

Private funeral services will be held at graveside Sunday morning at the B’Nai Jacob Cemetery in New Haven. 

Walter A. Benz, Jr.
2002-02-08
Walter A. Benz, Jr., 80, a resident of Redding since 1959, died on Wednesday, Feb. 6, at his home. He was the husband of the late Carole Scheider Benz.

Mr. Benz was born in New York City on July 13, 1921, a son of the late Walter A. and Katherine Kavacs Benz, Sr.

He was a veteran of World War II, having served in the United States Navy. Prior to his retirement, Mr. Benz was a trooper with the Connecticut State Police for 20 years.

Survivors include his daughter, Louise Tillstrom of Hammonton, N.J.; two sons, Robert J. Benz of Bethel and Walter A. Benz, III of Danbury; one brother, Richard Benz of Stony Brook, N.Y., nine grandchildren, five great grandchildren and several nieces and nephews.

Services will be held on Saturday, Feb. 9 at 10 a.m. at the graveside in St. Peter’s Cemetery, Danbury. There are no calling hours.

Arrangements are by the Bouton Funeral Home, 31 West Church St., Georgetown. 

Harry J. Gurski, Sr.
2002-02-08
Harry J. Gurski, Sr., 94, formerly of Brookfield, Conn., died Wednesday, Feb. 6, 2002 at the Bayonet Point Health and Rehabilitation Center, Hudson, Fla. He was the husband of the late Mary A. Pateen Gurski and the late Ruth M. Beers Gurski.

Mr. Gurski was born in Washington, Conn. May 3, 1907, a son of the late Frank and Eva Stasowski Gurski. He was a resident of Brookfield from 1910 until 1994, when he moved to Port Richey, Fla. His Brookfield home is part of the Brookfield Nature Preserve.

He was a veteran of the United States Army, serving from 1929 to 1931, with the 8th Field Artillery, Scofield Barracks, Honolulu, Hawaii.

Mr. Gurski worked at the former Robertson Bleachery and Dye Works in New Milford from 1925 to 1928. Before entering the service, he attended Marshall Flying School in Marshall, Missouri and was a private pilot. He worked for Neumann-Endler Wool Hat Company in Danbury as a dyer for 37 and a half years, until the factory closed in 1969. He then went to work for Mosler Safe Company, retiring in 1972 at the age of 65.

He was the last surviving charter member of the Brookfield Volunteer Fire Company. He was a Brookfield Constable for six years under Sheriff Peter H. Fennell, and Brookfield Dog Warden for 11 years, from 1950 to 1961. He was a lifelong member of the Pocono Grange #191, joining in 1927, and served as steward in the Grange.

He was a member of the Polish American Social Club of Pasco County, Fla. and the American Center of Polish Culture in Washington, DC. He was also a railroad buff.

Mr. Gurski is survived by one son, Harry J. Gurski, Jr., and his wife Carol, of Brookfield; one daughter, Helen Gurski Lacagnina, and her husband Salvatore, of New Port Richey, Fla.; one brother, Stanley Gurski of Brookfield; and several nieces and nephews.

A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated on Tuesday, Feb. 12 at 11 a.m. at St. Joseph’s Church, Brookfield. Interment will take place in the spring in St. Francis Cemetery, New Milford.

Friends may call at the Lillis Funeral Home, 58 Bridge St., New Milford on Tuesday, Feb. 12 from 9:30 a.m. to 10:30 a.m.

In lieu of flowers, contributions in his memory may be made to the Brookfield Volunteer Fire Company, 92 Pocono Road, Brookfield, CT 06804. 

Deaths
2002-02-08
BARRIGAS, Carlos “Los” A., Jr., 30, formerly of Danbury, Feb. 5, 2002. F: Friday, 10 a.m., St. Peter Church. (Green Funeral Home, Danbury)

BENZ, Walter A., Jr., 80, of Redding, Feb. 6, 2002. F: Saturday, 10 a.m., St. Peter’s Cemetery, Danbury. (Bouton Funeral Home, Georgetown)

DePAOLI, Robert J., 72, of Croton Falls, N.Y., Feb. 4, 2002. CH: Friday, 2 to 4 p.m. and 7 to 9 p.m. F: Saturday, 10 a.m. at the funeral home. (Beecher Funeral Home, Brewster)

GURSKI, Harry J., 94, formerly of Brookfield, Feb. 6, 2002. CH: Tuesday, 9:30 to 10:30 a.m. F: Tuesday, 11 a.m., St. Joseph’s Church, Brookfield. (Lillis Funeral Home, New Milford)

JOE, William P., 57, of New Fairfield, Feb. 5, 2002. F: Friday, 11 a.m., St. Edward the Confessor Church, New Fairfield. (Green Funeral Home, Danbury)

MAHON, Megan Elizabeth, 13, of Madison, Conn., Feb. 5, 2002. CH: Friday, 5 to 9 p.m. F: Saturday, 10 a.m., St. Margaret’s Church, Madison. (Swan Funeral Home, Madison)

MAZZA, Frank, 71, formerly of Danbury, Feb. 3, 2002.

MAZZA, Josephine M., 77, of Danbury, Feb. 5, 2002. CH: Friday, 2 to 4 p.m. and 7 to 9 p.m. F: Saturday, 10 a.m., Holy Name of Mary Church, Croton, N.Y. (Hull Funeral Home, Danbury)

MILLER, Albert D., 78, of New Milford, Feb. 1, 2002. F: Memorial service, Sunday, 1 p.m., St. John’s Episcopal Church, New Milford. (Colonial Funeral Home, New Milford)

MOLNAR, Louis, Jr., 66, formerly of Newtown, Feb. 4, 2002. CH: Sunday, 4 to 7 p.m. F: Monday, 11 a.m. at the funeral home. (Lesko Funeral Home, Fairfield)

MORRISSEY, Ernest F., 63, of Greentown, Pa., Feb. 2, 2002. F: Memorial Mass, Saturday, Feb. 23, 9 a.m., St. Peter’s Church, Danbury.

NELSON, Edith J., of Monroe, Jan. 23, 2002. F: Memorial service, Saturday, 1 p.m., Good Shepherd Lutheran Church, Monroe. (Green Funeral Home, Danbury)

PARISI, Christine M., 90, of Southbury, Feb. 6, 2002. F: Friday, 9:30 a.m., Sacred Heart Church, Southbury. (Munson-Lovetere Funeral Home, Southbury)

REDDEN, Florence M. (Conkling), 79, of Danbury, Feb. 6, 2002. CH: Friday, 3 to 5 p.m. and 7 to 9 p.m. F: Saturday, 10 a.m., St. Gregory the Great Church, Danbury. (Cornell Memorial Home, Danbury)

RENNER, Catherine L., 85, of Patterson, N.Y., Feb. 6, 2002. F: Friday, 11 a.m., St. John’s Church, Pawling, N.Y. (Dwyer Funeral Home, Patterson, N.Y.)

RIPPS, Saul, 81, father of Dr. Donald Ripps of Bridgewater, Feb. 6, 2002. F: Private. (Robert E. Shure Funeral Home, New Haven)

RUIZ, Dr. Rolando R., 81, of Danbury, Feb. 4, 2002. CH: Friday, 4 to 7 p.m. F: Saturday, 10 a.m., St. James Episcopal Church, Danbury. (Green Funeral Home, Danbury)

SHORTT, Laura Jean (Dolly), 72, of Sandy Hook, Feb. 5, 2002. F: To be announced. (Honan Funeral Home, Newtown)

TRESTER, Harry L., 80, of East Flat Rock, N.C., Jan. 24, 2002. F: Memorial Mass, Saturday, 10 a.m., St. Stephen’s Roman Catholic Church. (Thos. Shepherd Funeral Home, Hendersonville, N.C.)

WAGNER, Elizabeth (Betty) Thornhill, 83, of Trumbull, Jan. 31, 2002. CH: Friday, 4 to 8 p.m. F: Saturday, 9 a.m. at the funeral home. (Abriola Funeral Home, Fairfield)

ZUVICH, Helen E., 71, of Bethel, Jan. 27, 2002. F: Memorial Mass, Saturday, 11 a.m., St. Mary Church, Bethel. (Bethel Funeral Home) 

CH: Calling hours. F: Funeral. 

Dr. Rolando R. Ruiz, MD
2002-02-07
Dr. Rolando R. Ruiz, MD, age 81, of 6 Fairfield Ave., Danbury, died at Danbury Hospital on Feb. 4, 2002. He was the husband of Barbara (Wootteon) Ruiz.

He was born Oct. 17, 1920 in Havana, Cuba, son of the late Jorge and Carmen (Ulacia) Ruiz.

A graduate of the University of Havana Medical School in 1943, he came to Danbury Hospital as an intern and later as a resident and served two years. He was also a resident at Middlesex Memorial Hospital, Middletown, Conn. for one year and at Mount Sinai Hospital, Hartford for six months.

Dr. Ruiz opened his office for the private practice of medicine in June of 1947. In 1955, he entered military service as a Major in the U.S. Army. He served with the Medical Company of the 20th Infantry in the Canal Zone of Panama. In 1957, Dr. Ruiz resumed his private practice and also became Director of Health Services at Western CT State College. He retired from the position in 1982.

Dr. Ruiz continued his practice until 1986, when he retired and left his practice in the hands of his son. The doctor was a member of the Danbury Hospital Medical Staff for more than 40 years.

In his early years, he served with the Civil Defense and volunteered his services to the Danbury Red Cross. He was a former member of the Danbury Rotary Club.

In addition to his wife of 56 years, he is survived by his son, Dr. Rolando G. Ruiz, MD and his wife Renee of Scottsdale, Ariz.; his three grandchildren, Christopher Ruiz of Beverly Hills, Calif., Kara Ruiz of Monticello, Ark., and Lori Jean Webb of Kunkletown, Pa.; his sister, Carmen Machado of Hialeah, Fla.; his brother, Mario J. Ruiz of Miami, Fla.; and several nieces and nephews. He was predeceased by his daughter Karen Jean Webb in February, 1991.

Funeral services will be held at St. James Episcopal Church Saturday morning at 10 a.m. Burial will follow in Wooster Cemetery.

Friends will be received at the Green Funeral Home, 57 Main St., Danbury Friday from 4 to 7 p.m.

Those who wish may make contributions in Dr. Ruiz’s memory to the Danbury Hospital Development Fund, 24 Hospital Ave., Danbury, CT 06810. 

Florence Redden
2002-02-07
The death of Florence M. (Conkling) Redden, 79, of Jeanette St., Danbury, occurred at the Danbury Hospital Wednesday, February 6, 2002. She was the wife of the late John M. Redden.

Born in New York City, May 14, 1922, daughter of the late William and Florence (McCall) Conkling, she was a graduate of Walton High School, Bronx, N.Y. She lived in the Bronx and in Brooklyn before moving to Danbury in 1984. Mrs. Redden had been employed as a Long Distance Operator for American Telephone and Telegraph in New York City for 10 years and as a telephone operator for Chemical Bank of New York, from where she retired in 1984. Her later years were devoted to her home and family. She was a member of St. Gregory the Great Church and its Senior Citizens Group, its Ladies Guild and activities of the church including its Bazaar and Carnivals. She also was a volunteer at St. Gregory’s School Library. Florence was an officer in the Home School Association of Stella Maris High School in Rockaway, N.Y. and a substitute teacher and librarian of St. Vincent Ferrer School, also of New York. She was also a member of the “Two Old Broads Society.”

Surviving are her children and their spouses, Joan E. Filippone and John of Lodi, N.J., Geraldine A. Swanson and Bob of Staten Island, N.Y., Jean F. Campbell of Danbury, John M. Redden Jr., and Kris of Old Bridge, N.J. and Frances B. Cann and Joe of Danbury, a brother, William Conkling, Jr. of Flushing, N.Y., 13 grandchildren, Marianne, Francine and Christine Filippone, Kirstin, Tara and Rob Swanson, Meredith and Elizabeth Campbell, Kellianne and Katie Redden, Meagan, Joseph and Patrick Cann, as well as several supportive nieces, nephews and many friends. She was pre-deceased by a brother, Thomas Conkling and son-in-law, Thomas Campbell.

A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at St. Gregory the Great Church, Saturday morning at 10:00. Burial will be in St. Peter Cemetery. Friends may call at the Cornell Memorial Home, 247 White St., Friday from 3 to 5 and 7 to 9 p.m.

Contributions in her memory may be made to the National Organization for Rare Disorders (NORD), PO Box 8923, New Fairfield, CT, 06812 or to Hanahoe Children’s Clinic, 205 Main St., Danbury CT 06810. 

Harry L. Trester
2002-02-07
Harry L. Trester, 80, of East Flat Rock, NC, died Thursday, January 24, 2002 at the Elizabeth House.

He was a native of Indiana and a prior resident of Trumbull, Conn. before moving to Henderson County over 14 years ago. He was a son of the late Harry J. Trester and Wilma Caseldine Trester. He was preceded in death by his wife, Teresina “Rose” Dacunto Trester and one daughter, Sandra Denzel.

He was employed with Perkin-Elmer for over 25 years before retiring in 1984 and was the past Grand Knight of the Knights of Columbus in Hendersonville, NC, council #7184 as well as the Knights in Trumbull while living in Conn. He was a veteran of the US Air Force having served during WWII and was a member of the Hedrick-Rhodes VFW Post #5206 in Hendersonville.

Survivors include one daughter, Sharon Chickering and her husband Ron of Monroe, Conn.; one sister, “Bobbie” Myers and her husband Bob of Aurora, Ind.; son-in-law; Fred Denzel of Newtown, Conn.; four grandchildren, Jody Reynolds and her husband Greg of Coconut Creek, FL, Seth Chickering and his wife Kristeen of New Milford, Conn., Liana Denzel Cibery of Irving, TX and Eric Denzel of Newtown, Conn.; one great grandson, Pierson Reynolds, along with several nieces and nephews.

A memorial mass will be held at 10 a.m. on Saturday, February 9, 2002 at St. Stephen’s Roman Catholic Church.

Memorial contributions may be made to Four Seasons Hospice, PO Box 2395, Hendersonville, NC 28793 or to the Elizabeth House, 511 South Allen Rd., Flat Rock, NC 28731.

Thos. Shepherd &; Son Funeral Directors and Cremation Memorial Center, Hendersonville, NC is in charge of arrangements. 

Megan Elizabeth Mahon
2002-02-07
With grace and quiet courage, Megan Elizabeth Mahon, age 13, died Tuesday, Feb. 5 at home. She was the daughter of John and Kelly Ledford Mahon of Madison, Conn., formerly of Nassau Bay, Tex., and before that, Danbury. While in Texas, Megan attended the Seabrook Science Magnet School. She swam for the Nauticats Swim Team of Nassau Bay and played soccer in the Nassau Bay Soccer League. Previous to that, she had been a student at St. Joseph’s School in Brookfield, were she was a member of their Chargers basketball team. She also played softball in the Danbury Little League. Megan loved to read, mostly stories about classical civilizations and science and nature. She also loved the outdoors and being part of her large family, especially playing with and managing its perpetual whiffle ball tournament.

In addition to her parents, Megan leaves behind her younger brothers Patrick, Kyle, Jack, and her little sister Emily, her maternal grandparents Cheryl Fenske of Roxbury, David Fenske of Melbourne, Fla., and Gary and Wini Ledford of Apple Valley, Calif., her paternal grandparents, Mary and Raymond Mahon of Madison, her aunts and uncles Jeanne and Rick Brosseau of New Milford, Robert and Delaine Ledford of Apple Valley, Calif., Christopher Mahon and Krissa Van Hoorebeke of Holmdel, N.J., Rosemary and Alberto Acevedo of Milford, Conn., Andrew and Elizabeth Mahon of Arlington, Mass., Katherine Mahon of Perry, Maine, Raymond and his fiancee Mary Amsden of Branford, Conn., and her twelve cousins. She also leaves her great grandmother Helen Smith of Madison.

Friends may call Thursday, Feb. 7 from 6 to 9 p.m. and Friday, Feb. 8 from 5 to 9 p.m. at the Swan Funeral Home, 825 Boston Post Road, Madison. Megan’s life will be celebrated at a Mass of Christian Burial at St. Margaret’s Church, Madison at 10 a.m. Interment will follow in West Cemetery, Boston Post Road, Madison.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be sent to the Megan Mahon St. Joseph School Brookfield Scholarship Fund in care of Guilford Savings Bank, 634 Boston Post Road, Madison. 

Christine M. Parisi
2002-02-07
Christine M. (Micciancio) Parisi, of Heritage Village, widow of Leonard Parisi, died Wednesday morning at Glen Hill in Danbury. She was 90 years old.

Mrs. Parisi was born October 1, 1911 in Brooklyn, NY, daughter of the late Charles and Christine (Catalano) Micciancio. She attended local schools and worked briefly as a Secretary for Metropolitan Life Insurance Company before raising her family. In 1980, she moved from Brooklyn to Heritage Village. She volunteered at River Glen Nursing Home, now Mediplex, in Southbury. She was a communicant of Sacred Heart Church.

She is survived by her son and daughter in law, Kenneth and Patricia Parisi of Brookfield. She also leaves a sister Katherine Frontera of Lebanon, NJ in addition to a grandson John of San Francisco, CA and a granddaughter Diane of Shelton, CT.

A funeral mass will be held 9:30 Friday morning at Sacred Heart Church in Southbury. Burial will follow at Gate of Heaven Cemetery in Hawthorne, NY. Friends and family may call at The Southbury Funeral Home of Munson-Lovetere, 235 Main St. North, Rts. 6.67 Thursday (today) evening from 4 to 8 p.m.

Contributions in Mrs. Parisi’s name may be made to The American Heart Association 5 Brookside Drive Wallingford, CT 06492. 

Ernest Morrissey
2002-02-07
Ernest F. Morrissey, 63, of Greentown, Pa., died suddenly on Feb. 2, 2002 in Philadelphia. He was the beloved husband of Sandy, loving father of Kerry, Mike, Kevin and Doreen, loving grandfather of several grandchildren, dear brother of Diane Thorpe and Gary Morrissey, and he also leaves several nieces and nephews. He will be greatly missed.

A Memorial Mass will be held Feb. 23, 2002 at 9 a.m. in St. Peter’s Church, Danbury.


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