Full Text:

OBITS (Trahan; Kelly; Watkins; Migiano; Siegelbaum; Ricco; Lelas; Seymer;

Digilio; Hensel; Charrow; MacKenzie; Rostafin; Gertsch)

Philip A. Trahan

Philip A. Trahan, 61, the father of Kevin Trahan of Newtown, died on March 4

in St Vincent's Medical Center, Bridgeport.

A Trumbull resident for 21 years, Mr Trahan was a quality assurance manager

for A.G.I. Rubber Company of Trumbull. He was the widower of Joanne Kubicko

Trahan.

Mr Trahan was a US Air Force veteran of the Korean Conflict. He was a member

of the Trumbull Historical Society, the Kiwanis Club, and the ASQC.

He also is survived by a son, Philip Trahan of Stratford; a daughter,

Courtenay of Trumbull; two brothers; two grandchildren, and several nieces and

nephews.

Funeral services will take place on Saturday, March 7, at 10 am in the Adzima

Funeral Home, 50 Paradise Green Place, Stratford, and at 11 am in St Stephen's

Church, Trumbull, for a Mass of Christian Burial. Interment will be in St

John's Cemetery, Monroe.

Friends may call at the funeral home on Friday, March 6, from 4 to 8 pm.

The Newtown Bee March 6, 1998

James V. Kelly

James V. Kelly, a resident of Newtown for 50 years, died February 25 at

Mediplex of Danbury. He was 96.

Mr Kelly was the husband of the late Florence Mansfield Kelly.

He was born in Hartford, December 31, 1901, a son of James and Elizabeth Allen

Kelly. He was a retired carpenter and member of the United Brotherhood of

Carpenters Local 210.

His survivors include a son and a daughter, James Kelly and Florence Allen,

both of Newtown, three grandchildren and three great-grandchildren.

Contributions in memory of James Kelly may be made to the Newtown Volunteer

Ambulance Association, PO Box 344, Newtown 06470.

Arrangements were made by Cremation Services of Western Connecticut in

Danbury.

There were no calling hours. Interment will be at the family's convenience in

Newtown Village Cemetery.

The Newtown Bee March 6, 1998

Ellwood Watkins

Ellwood Watkins, 71, formerly of Sandy Hook, died February 17 at his home in

Hortense, Ga.

He was the husband of Carolyn O'Neal Watkins.

Before he moved to Georgia, Mr Watkins had lived in Sandy Hook, Southbury and

Pennsylvania.

Mr Watkins served in the US Army during World War II.

He retired from the family business, R.S. Watkins & Sons, Inc, in 1990.

Mr Watkins was a member of the Hiram Masonic Lodge #18 AF & AM of Sandy Hook

and of the Newtown United Methodist Church.

Besides his wife, he is survived by four sons, Steven of Hamden, N.Y., Randall

of Southbury, Keith of Brookfield and Robert of Asheville, N.C.; a daughter,

Ruth Ann Jumper of Leicester, N.C.; three brothers, Randall Watkins and Thomas

Watkins, both of Sandy Hook, and Jack Watkins of Newtown; a sister, Anna Lou

Goodwin of Pennsylvania; and a granddaughter.

Contributions in Mr Watkin's memory may be made to Hospice of Golden Isles,

Inc, 1692 Glynn Parkway, Brunswick, GA 31525.

Services were private. The Gordon-Harrison Funeral Home of Jessup, Ga., was in

charge of arrangements.

The Newtown Bee March 6, 1998

Hugo J. Migiano

Hugo J. Migiano, 90, father of Cesare Migiano of Newtown, died February 28 at

Danbury Hospital. He was the husband of Adriana Baccarini Migiano of Danbury.

Mr Migiano was born in Saranno, Italy, on May 10, 1907, a son of Cesare and

Antoinette Vaghi Migiano. He attended schools in Italy before moving to the

United States in 1920.

Before his retirement, Mr Migiano had been employed for more than 25 years in

the maintenance department at the Barden Corporation in Danbury.

He was a Bethel resident before moving to Danbury.

Mr Migiano was a member of St Peter Church, Danbury, and a former member of

the Knights of Columbus.

Mr Migiano is survived by two other sons, Mario Migiano of Danbury, and Guido

Migiano of Roxbury; eight grandchildren; a great-grandchild; and several

nieces and nephews.

Contributions in his memory may be made to St Peter Church, 104 Main Street,

Danbury 06810.

There are no calling hours. A Memorial Mass will be conducted on a date to be

announced. Cremation will take place at the convenience of the family.

The Newtown Bee March 6, 1998

Jean Siegelbaum

Jean Siegelbaum, 88, a Newtown area resident, died February 28 at Ashlar of

Newtown.

She was the wife of the late Julius Siegelbaum.

Mrs Siegelbaum was born in Philadelphia, Pa., on April 17, 1909, a daughter of

Benjamin and Helen Uzefowsky Klein.

Before moving to Newtown, she lived in Sandy Hook, New York and West Palm

Beach, Fla.

Mrs Siegelbaum is survived by three daughters, Linda Graff of Brookfield,

Barbara Lupowitz of West Palm Beach, and Marilyn Claire of Great Neck, N.Y.;

nine grandchildren; and eight great-grandchildren.

Contributions in her memory may be made to Ashlar of Newtown, P.O. Box 5505,

Newtown 06470.

The Honan Funeral Home, 58 Main Street, Newtown, was in charge of

arrangements.

Graveside services were held March 1 in New Montifiore Cemetery, Farmingdale,

N.Y.

The Newtown Bee March 6, 1998

Margaret Z. Ricco

Margaret Z. Ricco, 91, a resident of Newtown for 60 years, died February 27 in

Ashlar of Newtown.

Mrs Ricco, of Taunton Hill Road, was the wife of the late Alfred Ricco.

She was born in Tinale, Italy, October 7, 1906, a daughter of Stephen and

Angelina Zampedri. She immigrated to the United States in 1908.

Mrs Ricco was a member of the Dodgingtown Volunteer Fire Company Auxiliary.

Contributions in Mrs Ricco's memory may be made to the Newtown Visiting Nurse

Association, 45 Main Street, Newtown 06470.

Services were held March 2 at the Honan Funeral Home, 58 Main Street, Newtown,

followed by a Mass of Christian Burial in St Rose Church. Cremation was at

Mountain Grove Crematory, Bridgeport.

The Newtown Bee March 6, 1998

Beverly Lelas

Beverly Angeski Lelas, 54, a registered nurse at St Joseph Manor in Trumbull,

died February 27 at Bridgeport Hospital.

A resident of Monroe for the past ten years, Mrs Lelas previously lived in

Newtown.

She was born on February 28, 1943, a daughter of Chester and Ida Murphy

Angeski.

Her survivors include a daughter, Kimberly Ann Lelas of Fort Meyers, Fla.; a

son, John Lelas of Milford, Conn.; an aunt; and a granddaughter.

Services were conducted March 4 with a Requiem of the Holy Eucharist at St

Peter's Episcopal Church, Milford. Burial followed in Kings Highway Cemetery,

Milford.

Funeral arrangements were by the Cody-White Funeral Home of Milford.

The Newtown Bee March 6, 1998

Theordora Seymer

Theordora Hodecker Seymer, 86, died February 28 at her home on Cherry Heights

Terrace in Sandy Hook. She was the wife of the late Richard H. Seymer.

She was born in Newark, N.J., on June 26, 1911, a daughter of William and

Theodora White Hodecker. After graduating from Newark High School, she went on

to graduate from the Katherine Gibbs School in New York City.

Before moving to Newtown in 1992, Mrs Seymer lived in Lynbrook, N.Y., and then

for several years in Stamford.

She was a volunteer for the American Cancer Society, the American Red Cross,

and the National Federation for the Blind. She also was a volunteer for many

years at the Stamford Hospital Thrift Shop.

Her survivors include a daughter, Carla Seymer (Holroyd) of Sandy Hook, with

whom she lived; a son, William E. Seymer of Albany, Ind.; and four

grandchildren.

Funeral services were held at the Honan Funeral Home, 58 Main Street, on March

3. Cremation followed.

Contributions in memory of Mrs Seymer may be made to the Regional Hospice, 30

West Street, Danbury 06810, or Cyrenius H. Booth Library, 25 Main Street,

Newtown 06470.

The Newtown Bee March 6, 1998

Gertrude M. Digilio

Former Newtown resident Gertrude M. Digilio, 85, died February 27 at Danbury

Hospital.

She was the widow of Dominic "Tony" Digilio and the sister of Eleanor

Cunningham of Newtown.

Mrs Digilio lived in Sandy Hook for 50 years and was an active member of St

Rose Church before moving to Bethel several years ago.

She was born in New York City on January 22, 1913, a daughter of Thomas and

Ellen Twomey Astegher.

Mrs Digilio is survived by three sons, Joseph Digilio of Fort Lauderdale,

Fla., Thomas Digilio of Fresno, Calif., and Robert Digilio of Brookfield; a

daughter, Carolyn Digilio of Fresno, Calif.; four brothers; two other sisters;

two granddaughters; and several nieces and nephews.

Services were held March 4 at the Honan Funeral Home, 58 Main Street, Newtown,

followed by a Mass of Christian Burial at St Rose Church. Burial followed in

St Rose Cemetery.

The Newtown Bee March 6, 1998

Kenneth Hensel Sr

Kenneth D. Hensel Sr, 61, of Philo Curtis Road in Sandy Hook, died March 2 at

Glen Hill Convalescent Center, Danbury.

He was the husband of Ruth Dean Hensel.

Mr Hensel was born in New York City, July 8, 1936, a son of Henry and Mabel

Brinkley Hensel.

He has been a resident of Sandy Hook for the past 40 years.

He was a retired plant supervisor for Custom Carton Co of Branford and a

former longtime employee of the Curtis Packaging Company in Sandy Hook.

During the Korean War, he served as a mine assembler for the US Navy.

Besides his wife, he is survived by four sons, Kenneth Jr, Stephen, Richard

and Craig Hensel, and a daughter, Patricia Powers, all of Sandy Hook; a

brother, Donald H. Hensel of Sandy Hook; three sisters, Pat Giasullo of Port

St Lucie, Fla., Mabel Olden of Naples, Maine, and Kathe Hurzeler of Kezar

Falls, Maine; three grandchildren and several nieces and nephews.

Contributions in Mr Hensel's memory may be made to the Newtown Ambulance

Association, PO Box 344, Newtown 06470.

Services were held March 4 at Honan Funeral Home, 58 Main Street, with the Rev

Steven Gordon officiating. Cremation under the direction of Mountain Grove

Crematory in Bridgeport.

The Newtown Bee March 6, 1998

Edith M. Charrow

Edith Marie Charrow, 78, mother of Edith Tschorn of Hawleyville, died February

10 at the Gainesville Health and Rehabilitation Center, Fla., after a long

illness.

The Bridgeport native had lived in Interlachen, Fla., for the past 15 years,

moving there from Valhalla, N.Y.

She was a member of St John Catholic Church in Interlachen and was a past

member of the Fleet Reserve, the Order of Eagles and the International Union

of Operating Engineers Retirees Club in Ocala.

Besides her daughter Edith, she is survived by her husband, Francis R. "Frank"

Charrow of Interlachen; a son, Wallace Crawford of Englewood, Fla; daughters

Margaret Yost of Clintondale, N.Y. and Laura Suchand of Moncks Corner, S.C.; a

brother, Ronald Smalley of Ossining, N.Y.; 12 grandchildren and 13

great-grandchildren.

A Mass of Christian Burial was celebrated at the St John Catholic Church in

Interlachen. Burial followed in Pineview Cemetery.

Donations in memory of Mrs Charrow may be made to Hospice of North Central

Florida, 3204 Crill Ave, Palatka, FL 32177.

The Newtown Bee March 6, 1998

Muriel MacKenzie

Muriel Cooper MacKenzie, 84, a resident of Ashlar of Newtown, died February

27, at Danbury Hospital. She was the widow of David H. MacKenzie, Jr.

Mrs MacKenzie was born on December 18, 1913 in Bridgeport, a daughter of the

late James E. and Lydia Thornley Cooper. She was a Fairfield resident prior to

her move to Ashlar.

Mrs MacKenzie was a fifth grade teacher.

She is survived by three daughters; Beth MacKenzie of Los Angeles, Calif., L.

Harley Elia of Winchester, Mass., and Julia MacKenzie of Stratford; four

granchildren, Leah Mintz, MD of Los Angeles, Dr Susannah Mintz and Simon Bass

of New York, and Lucas Bass of Miami Beach.

A Memorial service will be held on Saturday, August 8, at the Chapel of the

First Presbyterian Church of Fairfield, 2475 Easton Turnpike, Fairfield.

Hull Funeral Service, 60 Division St, Danbury, was in charge of arrangements.

Memorials may be made to the Birdcraft Sanctuary Museum, 315 Unquowa Rd,

Fairfield, 06430.

The Newtown Bee March 6, 1998

Anastasia Rostafin

Anastasia Rostafin, 72, mother of Roman J. Rostafin of Newtown, died March 3,

at Westchester Medical Center after a long illness. She was the widow of

Tadeusz Rostafin.

She was born in the Ukraine, August 6, 1925, a daughter of the late Ivan and

Kasha Dwernicka.

After living in Munich, Germany, where she was married, she immigrated to the

United States in 1951 and settled in the Bronx, N.Y. She was a maintenance

worker for more than 30 years.

Besides her son, she is survived by three grandsons, Mark, Matthew and Michael

Rostafin, all of Newtown. She was predeceased by a son, George Rostafin.

Calling hours will be Friday, March 6, from 2 to 5 and 7 to 9 pm at Sisto

Funeral Home, 3489 East Tremont Avenue, Bronx, N.Y.

Services will be held at St Francis de Chantal, Bronx, N.Y. at 10 am Saturday

followed by interment at Our Lady of Czhestohowa Cemetery, Doylestown, PA.

The Newtown Bee March 6, 1998

Verena Gertsch

Verena Gertsch, 96, wife of the late Albert Gertsch, died March 4 at her home

on Ferris Road, Newtown.

She was born in Sicily on September 26, 1901, a daughter of the Friedrich and

Emma Ellenberger Nyfeler.

She immigrated to the United States in 1927 and had been a Newtown resident

since 1977. She was employed as a seamstress for many years.

She is survived by her son, Erich A. Gertsch of Newtown, with whom she lived;

four grandchildren, and two great-grandchildren.

A funeral service will be held at the convenience of the family. Cremation wa

sin Mt Grove Crematory, Bridgeport.

Honan Funeral Home, 58 Main Street, Newtown, handled the arrangements.

The Newtown Bee March 6, 1998