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OBITS (Phillips, Scianna, Germond, Schiller, Ballwig, Nemeth, Casperson,
Andrews, Coigney, Luciano; Steindl; Russo; Landegrebe; Hammond)
Mark W. Phillips
Mark W. Phillips, 43, son of Stanley and Katherine Phillips of Newtown, died
December 21 in Bridgeport Hospital.
He was born in Trenton, N.J., and was a contract specialist at the West Haven
Veterans Hospital.
He was a graduate of Fairfield University and received a master's degree in
microbiology at the University of Bridgeport.
Besides his parents, he is survived by his wife, Patricia Leopold Phillips;
three brothers, John of Trumbull, Keith of Stratford, and Scot of Bryn Athen,
Pa.; his grandparents, Emma and Earl Snook of Bridgeport; and two nieces and
two nephews.
Funeral services were held December 23 in the Cyril F. Mullins Trumbull
Funeral Home, 399 White Plains Road, with the Rev Michael Stevens, pastor of
the United Congregational Church of Bridgeport, officiating.
Interment will be at the convenience of the family.
The Newtown Bee December 26, 1997
Louis P. Scianna
Louis P. Scianna, 79, brother of Americo Scianna of Newtown, died December 18
in Griffin Hospital, Derby.
He was born in Bridgeport on January 10, 1918, son of the late Giovanni and
Francis Pomsellie Scianna, and was a resident of Norwalk before moving to
Beacon Falls six years ago.
Mr Scianna was a retired banker, working in the Norwalk area for many years.
After his retirement, he was employed in the finance department of Kurt Lee
Products in Ansonia for several years.
Besides his brother Americo, he is survived by his children, Louis "Chick"
Scianna of Orange, Judith Scianna Sharp of Milford, Kathleen Scianna Crowley
of Ansonia, Tex., and Mark Scianna of San Antonio, Tex.; a brother, Thomas
Scianna of Trumbull; 13 grandchildren and five great-grandchildren.
He was predeceased by four brothers, Peter, Frank, Sam, and Jim Scianna, and a
sister, Beatrice Scianna.
Funeral services were held December 22 in the Riverview Funeral Home, 390
River Road, Shelton.
Entombment will be in Mount St Peter Garden Mausoleum, Derby.
The Newtown Bee December 26, 1997
Mary D. Germond
Mary Dulya Germond, 96, mother of Marion Kellogg of Newtown and Jean Pategas
of Monroe, died December 18 in Lord Chamberlain Nursing Facility.
She was the widow of Eugene Germond.
Born in Bridgeport, Mrs Germond had been a Stratford resident for many years.
Besides her daughters she is survived by three sisters, Helen Wolff of
Stratford, Catherine Dumas of Milford, and Mildred Devack of Beverly Hill,
Fla.; five grandchildren; 12 great-grandchildren; one great-great-grandchild;
and several nieces and nephews.
Funeral services were held December 22 in the Pistey Funeral Home, 2155 Main
Street, Stratford, and in Our Lady of Peace Church with a Mass of Christian
Burial.
Interment will be in St Michael Cemetery.
The Newtown Bee December 26, 1997
Eleanor M. Schiller
Eleanor M. Schiller, 77, a Newtown resident and mother of Laura A. Mackay of
Newtown, died December 20 at Danbury Hospital.
She was the wife of Laurence W. Schiller of 5 Scudder Road.
Mrs Schiller was born December 9, 1920, in New York City, a daughter of Thomas
and Eleanor Walsh Carroll.
She had formerly worked as a seamstress in New York City.
Mrs Schiller had been a Newtown resident since 1962. She was a member of the
Newtown Women's Club and the Newtown Garden Club and had volunteered at Ashlar
of Newtown.
She was a member of St Rose Church in Newtown, where she served as a religious
education teacher, a Eucharistic minister and a lector.
Besides her husband and daughter, she is survived by a son, Gerald L. Schiller
of New Bedford, Mass.; a sister, Virginia O'Donnell of Comack, N.Y.; two
granddaughters, Renee and Katherine Mackay, and several nieces and nephews.
Contributions in her memory may be made to a charity of one's choice.
Services were held Tuesday, December 23, at the funeral home followed by A
Mass of Christian burial at St Rose Church. Burial will be in St Rose
Cemetery, Newtown.
The Newtown Bee December 26, 1997
Leonard P. Ballwig
Leonard P. Ballwig, 55, former owner and operator of Len's Harley Davidson
Parts and Repairs of Sandy Hook, died December 18 at Heritage Heights Health
Care Center in Danbury.
Mr Ballwig, of 44 Black Bridge Road, Sandy Hook, was the husband of Vivian
Johnson Ballwig.
Born August 24, 1942, in Danbury, he graduated from Danbury High School and
received certification as a Mercedes-Benz mechanic from Henry Abbott Technical
School in Danbury.
Mr Ballwig was self-employed and a driver and mechanic with the modified race
car circuit in the tri-state area. He was a member of the Fraternal Order of
Eagles.
Besides his wife, he is survived by two sons, Michael Ballwig of Danbury and
Al Ballwig of Southbury; a daughter, Kathleen Ballwig of Danbury; two sisters,
Barbara Starr of Danbury and Pamela Livingston of Port Washington, Pa.; four
grandchildren; and several nieces and nephews.
A Mass of Christian Burial was celebrated December 22 at St Gregory the Great
Church in Danbury.
Cremation will take place at the convenience of the family.
The Newtown Bee December 26, 1997
Louis Nemeth, Jr
Louis Nemeth, Jr, age 80, a resident of Fairfield and father of Susan T.
Bussolotti of Newtown, died December 17 in Southport Manor.
Mr Nemeth was born in Fairfield, and also resided in Monroe for 17 years.
Mr Nemeth was a self-employed printer for many years and was also the owner/
operator of the Bridgeport Rubber Stamp Company in Stratford until his
retirement 18 years ago.
He had been an assistant Scout Master in Monroe.
Besides his daughter, Mr Nemeth is survived by his wife, Lucille Kelly Nemeth
of Fairfield; his son, Joseph Nemeth of Oxford; his brother, James Nemeth of
Fairfield; five grandchildren, Ronald Bussolotti, Jr, Kimberly Sherwood, Laura
Nemeth, Danielle Getchel and Nicole Nemeth; and two great-grandchildren,
Jessica Bussolotti and Haylee Smith.
A funeral was held on December 20 in the Redgate, Wilmot West and Goulding
Funeral Home, 406 Main Street, Monroe.
Interment will be private at the convenience of the family.
The Newtown Bee December 26, 1997
race E. Casperson
Grace Elizabeth "Betty" Humphreys Casperson, 74, of Heritage Village,
Southbury, and mother of Betsy A. Cassella of Sandy Hook, died December 19 at
Danbury Hospital.
She was the wife of the late Dr Roland Casperson.
Born in New Britain, she had lived more than 20 years in Westport then in
Newington for 17 years before moving to Southbury in 1995. She was a graduate
of Quinnipiac College.
Mrs Casperson was a member and past regent of the General Roger Welles
Chapter, Daughters of the American Revolution, and the Newington Historical
Society.
She volunteered for the American Red Cross and the National and the
Connecticut Arthritis Foundation.
Surviving are three sons, Peter H. Casperson of New York City; James R.
Casperson of Winchendon, Mass.; and Robert C. Casperson of Danbury; another
daughter, Lee Rogers of Waukesha, Wis.; and six grandchildren.
There were no calling hours.
Services were held December 22 at St Marks Episcopal Church, 147 West Main
Street, New Britain.
Contributions in her memory may be made to St Marks Episcopal Church Music
Fund.
The Carlson Funeral Home in New Britain is in charge of arrangements.
The Newtown Bee December 26, 1997
Joan L. Andrews
Joan L. Andrews, 60, a research technician, died December 19, at Danbury
Hospital.
Mrs Andrews, of 20 Maple Avenue Extension, Bethel, was the wife of Thomas J.
Andrews.
Born in Gloversville, N.Y., October 1, 1937, she was a daughter of William N.
and Doris A. Karker Miller. She received her education in Gloversville and
Northville, N.Y., schools.
Mrs Andrews was a veteran of the Korean War, serving for two years in the
Women's Army Corps.
She had been employed as a principle research technician for the Davis and
Geck Division of American Cyanamid for 32 years.
Mrs Andrews was an active member of Immanuel Lutheran Church in Danbury, its
board of parish education and its parish council.
She also was a member of the Rocking Rooster Square Dance Club of Newtown.
Besides her husband, she is survived by two sons, Joseph D. Andrews of Danbury
and William J. Andrews of Bethel; two daughters, Barbara J. Andrews of Bethel
and Joan L. Andrews of Thomaston, Conn.; seven grandchildren; and several
nieces and nephews.
Contributions in her memory may be made to the Bethel Visiting Nurses
Association, 1 School Street, Bethel, CT 06801, or to the Danbury Hospital
Nurses, 8th Floor East, 24 Hospital Avenue, Danbury, CT 06810.
Services were held December 22 at the Immanuel Lutheran Church in Danbury with
the Rev Dr Richard E. Kuehnert, Jr, pastor, officiating.
Burial will be in the Immanuel Lutheran cemetery.
The Cornell Memorial Home, 247 White Street, Danbury, is in charge of
arrangements.
The Newtown Bee December 26, 1997
Virginia Coigney
Virginia Coigney, a retired patient and community relations director of
Danbury Hospital and mother of singer Mary Travers, died December 18 at
Greenwich Woods Health Care Center. She was 80.
Mrs Coigney, a longtime resident of Redding, began her career in 1934 as a
journalist at the Knickerbocker Press in Albany, N.Y. She also was a magazine
editor and a writer for television and radio until she moved to Redding in
1962.
She retired as patient and community relations director of Danbury Hospital in
1982.
Mrs Coigney was an integral part of the growth of Danbury Hospital from a
small community facility to a sophisticated 371-bed hospital.
Besides her daughter Mary Travers of Redding, who is a member of the trio
Peter, Paul and Mary, she is survived by another daughter, Ann Gordon of
Oakland, Calif.; four grandchildren; and two great-granddaughters.
A memorial service will be conducted at a future date.
The Newtown Bee December 26, 1997
Marjorie L. Luciano
Marjorie Louise Luciano, 84, a former Westport resident who has brothers and
sisters living in the Danbury area, died Monday, December 22, in Vermont.
A resident of Danby, Vt., Mrs Luciano was the wife of the late Dominick J.
Luciano.
She was born in New Haven, Conn., on February 26, 1913, a daughter of William
M. and Edith Wood Brown.
Her survivors include a daughter, Marjorie Abbott of Danby, Vt.; four sisters,
Marion Redman of Fairfield, Conn., Doris Chappuis of New Milford, Joyce
Natalie of Atlanta, Ga., and Ruth Sterling of Sandy Hook; three brothers,
Sydney Brown of Northport, Fla., Richard Brown of Danbury, and Kenny Brown of
New Milford; three grandchildren; two great-grandsons; and several nieces and
nephews.
Contributions in her memory may be made to the Danby-Mt Tabor Fire Department
or Danby Area Lions Club, RD, Danby, Vt. 05739.
Services were held Wednesday at 10 am at the Wallingford Aldous Funeral Home,
Main Street, Wallingford, Vt. Burial followed in the Danby Scottsville
Cemetery.
The Newtown Bee December 26, 1997
Henry Steindl
Henry Steindl, age 93, of Carefree, Ariz., a former longtime resident of
Trumbull, Conn., father of Irene Schwartz of Newtown, died peacefully in his
sleep on December 12.
He was born in Germany on October 13, 1904, the son of Heinrich and Anna
(Eggert) Steindl.
He was a master professional chef almost all of his life, beginning as an
apprentice in Germany at the age of ten. He worked in many famous hotels
throughout Europe prior to his arrival in the United States at the age of 21.
His professional career spanned almost 50 years in New York and Connecticut.
He also served as a special police officer for the town of Trumbull for many
years and can most be remembered as "Schultz" directing traffic at various
locations throughout the town. He is survived by his wife of 69 years,
Catherine (Krchnavy) Steindl. Besides his daughter he leaves two children,
David Steindl of Sanford, Fla., and Linda Koreas of Carefree, Ariz., with whom
he resided; seven grandchildren; three great-grandchildren and several cousins
throughout Germany.
Services have been held.
The Newtown Bee December 26, 1997
Frank Russo
Frank Russo, 89, of Danbury, the father of Guy M. Russo of Sandy Hook, died at
his home in Danbury on December 23.
He was the husband of the late Henrietta Kessler Russo.
Mr Russo was born in the Bronx, N.Y., October 30, 1908, son of Nicole and
Theresa Ragozzino Russo, and attended Bronx schools. He had maintained a
summer home in Danbury since 1960, moving there permanently in 1965.
He was employed as a bus mechanic for the Manhattan and Bronx Surface Transit
Operating Authority, now the New York Transit Authority, for 43 years,
retiring in 1970.
He was a member of the Transport Workers Union, Local 100 in New York. He was
an avid gardener and wine maker, a tradition passed on to him by his father.
He is also survived by two other sons, Nicholas F. Russo of Sound Beach, N.Y.,
and Frank Russo of New Milford; two daughters, Theresa Janelli of Danbury and
Frances Schilling of New Milford; three sisters, Lucy Duva of Valhalla, N.Y.,
Anna Bez and Fannie Orzo, both of Blauvelt, N.Y.; 12 grandchildren; six
great-grandchildren and several nieces and nephews.
Funeral services will be held at the Cornell Memorial Home, 247 White Street,
Danbury, Friday, December 26, at 5:30 pm. Cremation will follow.
Friends may call at the Cornell Memorial Home Friday from 2:30 to 5:30 pm.
Contributions in his memory may be made to Regional Hospice of Western
Connecticut, 30 West Street, Danbury, CT 06810.
The Newtown Bee December 26, 1997
Thelma F. Landgrebe
Thelma F. Landgrebe, 85, the mother of Bruce Landgrebe of Sandy Hook, died
December 22 in Hartford Hospital.
Widow of the late Anton Landgrebe, she was a former resident of Tenbroeck
Avenue in the Bronx, New York.
Mrs Landgrebe was born in Newark, N.Y., on January 16, 1912, daughter of Lewis
and Maude Wiley Farnsworth. She was a registered nurse. She earned her nursing
degree at Rochester (N.Y.) Hospital and was last employed as a nurse at
Fordham Hospital in the Bronx.
In addition to her son Bruce, Mrs Landgrebe is survived by two other sons,
Jack Landgrebe of South Windsor and Donald Landgrebe of Somers, N.Y.; a
brother, William Farnsworth of Spencerport, N.Y.; 11 grandchildren; and a
great-grandson.
Friends may call at the Honan Funeral Home, 58 Main Street, Newtown, from 7 to
9 pm on Friday, December 26. The funeral service will be held on Saturday,
December 27, at 10 am at Newtown Congregational Church with the Rev Steven
Gordon officiating.
Burial will be in Kensico Cemetery, Valhalla, N.Y.
The Newtown Bee December 26, 1997
George J. Hammond
George J. Hammond, 85, the father of Michael Hammond of Newtown, died December
22 at Mariner Healthcare at Bridebrook in Niantic.
A former resident of Niantic, he was the husband of Pearl Simonovich Hammond.
Mr Hammond was born August 3, 1911, in Woodridge, N.Y., the son of Moses and
Etta Palmer Hammond. He was married on November 13, 1933, in Greenwich and
lived in New York City prior to moving to Niantic in 1953.
Mr Hammond was active in the community for many years. He worked for the East
Lyme Board of Education and for many years was a constable for the East Lyme
Police Department.
He was a member of St Agnes Church in Niantic, where he served as an usher for
many years, and the Knights of Columbus, Our Lady of Perpetual Help Council
#5633 in Niantic. He was also a member of the New London Lodge of Elks #260
and for 24 years served in the office of tiler. He also served as the tiler
for the State of Connecticut Elks organization. He was a member of the Niantic
Fire Department.
In addition to his wife and his son, Mr Hammond also is survived by two
sisters, Irma Rupp and Elizabeth Clinton; seven grandchildren; and two
great-grandchildren. He was predeceased by a son, George, a brother, Floyd,
and two sisters, Edna Finch and Hazel Hammond.
A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at St Agnes Church, Haigh
Avenue, Niantic, at 11 am on Saturday, December 27. Burial will be private.
Friends may call at the Fulton-Theroux Funeral Home, 13 Lake Avenue, Niantic,
on Friday, December 26, from 2 to 4 pm and 7 to 9 pm.
Contributions in memory of Mr Hammond may be made to the American Cancer
Society, 261 Ledyard Street, New London, CT 06320.
The Newtown Bee December 26, 1997