Paula Henne

Loving Mother And Grandmother

Paula (Ruzzo) Henne, 79, of Middlebury, died January 31 at St Mary’s Hospital surrounded by her family. She was the widow of Robert L. Henne. Mrs. Henne was born in Waterbury June 8, 1928, daughter of Paul and Katherine (D’Amato) Ruzzo.

She is survived by three daughters, Nancy Schreiner and her husband, John, of Newtown, Margie Swendsen and her husband, Donald, of Bethlehem, and Catherine Nordby and her husband, Arnold, of Southbury; ten grandchildren, Michael and Jonathon Bolton, Adam Swendsen, Joshua and Lindsay Nordby, Kate and Robert Kokoski, and Geoff, Blake, and Harrison Schreiner; one great-granddaughter, Amelia Grace Bolton; a brother, Al Ruzzo and his wife, Pat, of Wallingford; and a sister, Roberta McGill and her husband, Douglas, of Waterbury. Mrs Henne is also survived by several nieces and nephews (Hennes, McGills, and Ruzzos); and many dear friends that became a part of her family.

 She was a graduate of Saints Peter & Paul Grammar School and Waterbury Catholic High School, and had been a resident of Middlebury since 1953.

 Mrs Henne was a member of St John of the Cross Church in Middlebury for more than 50 years where she also served as a Eucharistic Minister, CCD teacher, and served on the liturgy committee. She also would visit nursing homes and people at home, not only to distribute the Eucharist but to also comfort those who were at the threshold of passing. Mrs Henne helped initiate a program called “New Day,” a bereavement support group. She was also a volunteer at St Mary’s Hospital.

Mrs Henne was a loving and very proud grandmother who enjoyed being involved in her grandchildren’s activities.

Funeral services were held February 4 from the Murphy Funeral Home, Waterbury, to St John of the Cross Church in Middlebury for a Mass of Christian Burial. Burial was in Mt Olivet Cemetery, Watertown.

 Memorial contributions may be made to St John of the Cross Annual Youth Mission Trip, c/o St John of the Cross Church, 530 Middlebury Road, Middlebury CT 06762.

The Newtown Bee        February 8, 2008