Obituaries, June 6, 2008

Emil T. Brayfield

Emil Theodore Brayfield, 86, of Kiefer Road, Southington, died Wednesday, May 28, 2008, at home. He was the husband of 54 years of Erika (Ruppel) Brayfield.

Born June 9, 1921, in Southington, to the late Julius and Johanna (Hoff) Brayfield, he had been a lifelong Southington resident. Mr. Brayfield served his country during World War II as a technician fifth grade in Service Company of the 712th Tank Battalion. He participated in five major campaigns in European Theater of Operations in: Normandy, Northern France, Ardennes, Rhineland and Central Europe, landing on Utah Beach on June 28, 1944 as part of the 1st Army under General Omar Bradley and attached to the 90th Infantry, 3rd Army under command of General Patton through France, Germany and Czechoslovakia. Mr. Brayfield worked for James T. Kay in Meriden before retiring in 1986, and was a life member of the First Lutheran Church of Southington.

In addition to his wife, he leaves three sons and their wives, David and Kathy Brayfield of Southington, Mark and Sharon Brayfield of Ohio, and Gary and Donna Brayfield of Southington; a brother, Robert Brayfield of Florida; a sister, Hildred Renn of Southington; seven grandchildren, Matthew, Zachary, Kelly, Amanda, Cassondra, Logan and Jordan; and many nieces and nephews. He was pre-deceased by a son, Ronald Brayfield.

Services were held June 2 from Plantsville Memorial Funeral Home to First Lutheran Church, Southington. Burial, with full military honors, followed in South End Cemetery.

Donations in his memory may be made to First Lutheran Church, 232 Bristol St., Southington, or to Hospice of Central Connecticut, 205 W. Main St., P.O. Box 1327, New Britain, CT.

Sandra M. Dahlstrom

Sandra M. Kogelman Dahlstrom, 66, of Southington, formerly of New Britain, passed away unexpectedly Saturday, May 31, 2008, after a brief illness. She was the wife of 43 years of David C. Dahlstrom. She was the daughter of Mary (Pauloz) Kogelman and the late William J. Kogelman.

Mrs. Dahlstrom was an accountant, having worked for many years at Joseph Krar and Associates. She also volunteered at The Vance School, while her children were in school.

In addition to her husband and mother, she is survived by a son, Jeffrey Dahlstrom, and daughter-in-law, Stephanie Ryan; a daughter and son-in-law, Karen and Stephen Noel; four grandchildren, Kyle, Alex and Colby Noel and Abigail Dahlstrom; a sister, Vicki Kogelman, and brother-in-law, Mark Adams Griswold; two nephews, Kyle Adams Griswold and Ryan Williams Griswold; and several aunts, uncles, cousins and nieces.

Services were held June 3 at Rose Hill Funeral Home, Rocky Hill. Burial followed in Rose Hill Memorial Park.

Donations may be made to The American Cancer Society, 538 Preston Ave., P.O. Box 1004, Meriden, CT 06450.

William "Dizzy" F. Derwin

SFC (RET) William Francis "Dizzy" Derwin, 67, of Whitlock Avenue, Plantsville, died Wednesday, May 28, 2008, at The Hospital of Central Connecticut at Bradley Memorial, Southington. He was the husband of Nancy (Hall) Derwin.

He was born in Hartford, Feb. 13, 1941, the son of the late Francis and Johanna (Murphy) Derwin. Mr. Derwin was an enlisted soldier in the Connecticut National Guard for over 38 years; a full time federal technician for over 31 years; and was an active participant driver of the 1st and 2nd Company of the Governor's Horse and Foot Guard. He was also a life member of the American Legion Kiltonic Post No. 72.

In addition to his wife, he leaves three children, William Jerome Derwin, Donna Marie Derwin, and Raymond Armand Derwin and his wife, Erin, all of Southington; two grandchildren, William Francis Derwin and Taylor Mackenzie Derwin; two brothers, John Derwin of Windsor Locks, and Francis Derwin Jr. of West Hartford; a sister, Anne Greene of Windsor Locks; and many nieces and nephews. He was predeceased by a sister, Mary Jane McDermott, and two nephews, Patrick D. McDermott and James W. McDermott.

Services were held June 3 at St. Aloysius Church, Plantsville. Burial, with full military honors, was in St. Thomas Cemetery, Southington. DellaVecchia Funeral Home, Southington, was in charge of arrangements.

Donations in his memory may be made to: Harold Leever Regional Cancer Center, 1075 Chase Parkway, Waterbury, CT 06708.

Herbert P. Leonard

Herbert Peter Leonard, 83, of Round Hill Road, Southington, died Thursday, May 22, 2008 at Newington Health Care. He was the husband of Pauline (Bukowski) Leonard.

He was born May 25, 1924 in West Caldwell, N.J. to the late Russell and Mae (Burns) Leonard. He had been a long time resident of Cheshire, before moving to Southington in 1974. Mr. Leonard worked for Pratt & Whitney as a technical planner, before retiring 20 years ago. He served his country during World War II in the Naval Air Force 50th Squadron B-24 Bomber Group. He was an excellent golfer and bowler.

In addition to his wife, he is survived by a son, Russell Leonard and his wife, Marilyn, of Plantsville; his daughters, Kathleen Restorff and her husband, James, of Maryland, and Diane Lemire and her husband, Tom, of Southington; a sister, Vernalyn Bliss of Florida; two grandchildren; and a great-grandson.

Services were held May 29 at Plantsville Memorial Funeral Home. Burial will be at the convenience of the family.

Betty A. O'Brien

Betty (Allen) O'Brien, 87, of Zwicks Farm Road, Plantsville, died Tuesday, May 27, 2008, after a long illness. She was the wife of the late Fredrick Patrick O'Brien.

Born May 16, 1921, in Medford, Mass., to the late Thomas Edward and Jean (Allen) Brownlowd, she had been a longtime Southington resident. Mrs. O'Brien was a devoted homemaker, ceramist and a breeder of miniature poodles.

She is survived by two sons, Craig Allen O'Brien, of Plantsville, and Bruce Stephen O'Brien and his wife, Diane, of Ivoryton; a daughter, Sandra Jean (O'Brien) Chadis, and her husband, John Mark,. of Newton Centre, Mass.; four grandchildren, Bruce O'Brien Jr. and Tina O'Brien, both of Ivoryton, and Alex and Lucy Chadis, both of Newton Centre, Mass.; and many nieces and nephews. She was pre-deceased by a sister, Caroline Olson.

There were no services and burial was private in South End Cemetery. Plantsville Memorial Funeral Home was in charge of the arrangements.

Donations may be made to the Massachusetts Audubon Society, South Great Road, Lincoln, Mass. 01773.

Robert Schumann

Robert Schumann, of Guilford, died Monday, May 26, 2008, at Yale-New Haven Hospital. He was the husband of the late Pauline (Beshuk) Schumann.

He was born Aug. 3, 1917 in Middlebury, the son of the late Charles and Adelaide (Sims) Schumann. A former resident of Southington, he was a retired postmaster. A strong athlete and avid sports fan, he maintained his interest in all sports, especially those of his great-grandsons, Austin and Kyle Richard, of Guilford, who survive him, along with his daughter and her husband, Barbara and Dr. Roger Richard; his grandson, Robert Richard; and his granddaughter, Kate Richard, of Clinton. He was predeceased by his brothers Charles "Chic", Elwood "Woody"; and sisters, Caroline and Kay.

Services were held June 5 at St. George Catholic Church, Guilford. Guilford Funeral Home was in charge of arrangements.

Memorial contributions may be made to the Alzheimer's Resource Center, 1261 S. Main St., Plantsville, CT 06479.

John E. Steczkowski Jr.

John E. Steczkowski Jr., 26, beloved son of John and Jadwiga (Garbowski) Steczkowski, of Plantsville, passed away on Sept. 16, 2007 at Hartford Hospital from injuries sustained in an automobile accident.

He was born in New Britain and moved to Plantsville. He attended St. Thomas Catholic School, John F. Kennedy Middle School, Southington High School, Porter & Chester Institute, and at the time of his death, was attending New England Technical Institute, where he was studying to be an electrician. He was a member of Immaculate Conception Church, Plantsville, where he served many years as an altar boy. He enjoyed life, especially time spent with family and friends, and he enjoyed riding his motorcycle and ATV. His genuine smile was always seen and his presence known when he entered a room, he will always be remembered and dearly missed by all who knew him.

Besides his parents, he is survived by his sister, Monika Steczkowski; his maternal grandmother, Theresa Burak of New Britain; his paternal grandmother, Czeslawa Garbowski of New Britain; four aunts: Maria Komorowski, her husband, Matthew, and their children, Christopher, Nicholas and Erik, all of New Britain; Wendy Choinski and her husband, Chester, of Newington, their daughter, Agnes Corr and her husband, Matt, and their son, Jerry Choinski; Janina Shorey and her husband, Claude, of Plantsville, and their daughter, Joanna Koza; Halina Zaleski and her husband, Kazimierz, of New Britain, and their child in Poland; his uncle, Bogdan Garbowski and his wife, Danuta, of Poland, and their daughter, Iwona Krutu and her husband, Jarek, of New Britain; and his girl­friend, Jodi Abramczyk.

Services were held Sept. 21, 2007 from New Britain Memorial­Sagarino Funeral Home to Sacred Heart Church, New Britain. Burial will followed Sacred Heart Cemetery, New Britain.

Salvatore Trotta

Salvatore Trotta, 66, of Southington, died peacefully, at home, Tuesday, May 27, 2008. He was the husband of Annette (Nuzzolillo) Trotta.

Born in New Haven on April 26, 1942, he was the son of the late Frank and Fannie (Delucia) Trotta. He enjoyed riding bicycles and following the stock market. He was a member of the Garden St. Athletic Club in New Haven.

Besides his wife, he is survived by his children, Alicia Whitney of Florida, Jonathan Trotta and his wife, Eriko, of Guilford, Meredith Trotta and her husband, Daniel Parzych, of Ridgefield, and Tina Riccio and her husband, Michael, of Southington; a sister, Roberta Trotta of New Haven; and eight grandchildren, Anthony, Grace, Sophia, Lucca, Lily, Aria, Francesca and George.

A memorial service was held June 1 at DellaVecchia Funeral Home, Southington.

Memorial contributions may be made to Southington Social Services, 75 Main St., P.O. Box 610, Southington, CT 06489.