Thursday nights'll never be the same

"Ida was a wonderful mother and homemaker, and life-long Red Sox fan. She instilled many important values in her family, one of which was to make the community part of her family, and her family part of the community.

"Her doors and house were always open to those who were hungry or who had no place to stay. People from as far away as China, Germany, Italy, and Russia have graced her table and knew of her hospitality. Thursday nights were her most favorite time for family and friends to gather as she hosted her spaghetti and meatball dinners with multiple home made desserts."

An oldie but goodie: Great lede!

"Selma Koch, a Manhattan store owner who earned a national reputation by helping women find the right bra size, mostly through a discerning glance and never with a tape measure, died Thursday at Mount Sinai Medical Center. She was 95 and a 34B."

Way to go! New wordage

"prebituary
n. An obituary composed or published prior to a person's death; a prediction of failure, particularly of a political candidate. Also: pre-bituary."

Hat tip to Thom Forbes for this one. Just this morning, thinking on this, I coined a word: Autobituary. When you write your own obituary. Like?

Memories of Niantic

"Bobby's fondest memories were of Niantic and England."

She loved to read and laugh

"Adele was interested in art and antiques, needle point, gardens, horseback riding in Wyoming, and she loved to read and laugh."

Started each day with a bowl of oatmeal ...

"Harvey was a second generation steamfitter and a proud member of the Plumbers and Pipefitters Union Local 777 for 58 years. He was an avid fisherman, loved gardening and the great outdoors, and is well known for starting each day with a bowl of oatmeal and a crossword puzzle."

Think I've heard that one ...

"His family would like to thank the Groton Senior Center and Shoreline Day Care for their kindness through the years and to all the people who listened to his 'European' joke, thank you."

""

His family would like to thank the Groton Senior Center and Shoreline Day Care for their kindness through the years and to all the people who listened to his "European" joke, thank you.

The dash between the dates

"Bennett, Clark Lynn
September 10, 1939
-
November 14, 2009

His incredible life's story is the dash between dates. That dash represents all the time he spent alive on earth, and everyone who knew him knows what that little line is worth.
He loved and was loved."

(Thanks to Nina Murphy, who found this in the Daily Breeze in Southern California.)

One white rat?

"Her early childhood was greatly influenced by World War II, in which her father served on Navy ships in the Pacific. In her teens and early adulthood, her life was one of a traditional Southern debutante in the post-World War II U.S. Navy world. She was known for her beauty, as her mother and maternal grandmother had been before her, and she won various beauty contests during her time at the University of New Mexico, from which she graduated in 1956. Far more importantly, however, as throughout her life, she was always an extremely strong-minded, outgoing, charismatic person, with an agile intellect and an out-sized and vivid personality; she was a formidable force to be reckoned with in any setting.

"Beginning in the late 1960s, she became increasingly involved in various progressive causes, first and foremost, feminism, but she was also strongly committed to civil rights, peace and environmental causes as well. Among other things, she wrote a column on feminism during the 1970s for a New London Submarine Base newsletter, and taught adult education on the same topic at Robert E. Fitch Senior High School of Groton as well. She was deeply involved in the 1968 presidential campaign of Eugene McCarthy. After her divorce, she decided to adopt the Bonney surname as a symbol of her commitment to feminist principles; it was the maiden name of her much-loved paternal grandmother, after whom she had been named, Winifred Bonney Davis, a suffragette.

"Ms. Bonney had several careers. Before her first marriage, she taught third grade in Pensacola, Fla. During her children's younger years, she was a stay-at-home mother. After her divorce, from 1976 to 1999, she worked as an editor for the Bureau of Business Practice, a division of Prentice-Hall. She held several positions in the local government of Groton. She also served on the Old Lyme Wetlands Commission from 1995 to 1998.

"For the remaining four decades of her life, she continued to be a fearless and passionate advocate of her views regarding the political and social issues of her day; indeed, despite declining health over the last decade, she remained deeply involved in, and vocal about, the many issues about which she fervently cared. She was a gifted writer and editor, a voracious reader, as well as a lover of crossword puzzles and double acrostics. She was also an artist and craftsperson (oil painting and knitting) and deeply interested in the arts. Moreover, she was a great animal lover. Her many pets over the years included many dogs, cats, birds, and tropical fish, and one white rat. In addition, she also was an avid traveler, visiting Europe and Israel in her thirties; she and Mr. Chester also travelled widely, visiting among other countries Sweden, Belize, Mexico, England, Wales, Italy, and Egypt."

Not many like to walk in the rain; he did

"He loved everything about the outdoors and walking in the rain was something he would often do."

My sister and I would like to have known Edna

"Groton - Edna F. Wernau, 87, of 425 Drozdyk Drive, Groton, scratched her final ticket Wednesday, June 24, 2009, and won a spot in heaven.
"Edna was blessed with a sharp wit and keen sense of humor into her final days and often joked that she would gladly trade in all her pills for just one Brandy Alexander. She enjoyed romance novels, Wind Song perfume, and scratch-off tickets, and provided an endless supply of Mentos to her friends and loved ones."

Relish: Adverb, noun or both?

"She was happiest when she was with her family and friends, cooking and baking for everyone, making pinucchi fudge, performing seamstress work, and eating a grilled hot dog with relish."

Her sense of humor was particularly droll

"Fran's early experiences in the military generated a life-long love of travel, and she was particularly enamored of Ireland, England, Italy and India. An avid reader, she had wide ranging interests and a lively curiosity, always alert to the vicissitudes of the 21st century while firmly rooted in the values and ethical precepts of her New England upbringing. And her strength in the face of medical adversity was exemplary, having survived two bouts of cancer as well as lesser ailments with determination and dignity. Her sense of humor was particularly droll, with the result that conversations were laced with piquant observations and pointed commentary. She was a staunch ally, a generous friend, and a loving mother."

Jessica's "unique squeaky voice"

"Wherever she was, Jessica's zest for fun, enthusiastic energy, unique squeaky voice, and contagious laughter brought smiles to those around her."

He was ready to fix anything broken

"From an early age Don loved to fix things. In a photo of "Donnie" at about three years old he shows off his treasured "suitcase" of tools and string, ready, even then, for any opportunity to put them to helpful use. Friends remember that he always kept a toolbox in his car so that he would be ready to fix anything broken or work on any project where his help was needed. He is also remembered for mending problems with his thoughtful listening and caring help, which he kept at the ready for everyone."

He disdained moderation in all things

"As he grew to young manhood, so did his love for everything physical and anything outdoors. A parade of outdoor sporting gear--bikes, skateboards, wake boards, snow boards--seemed constantly to attach and re-attach itself to his feet. He was Austin-grown, through and through, a perfect fit for this city and its surrounding terrain. He did nothing at half-speed, knew no half-measures and disdained moderation in all things."

"As he grew to young manhood, so did his love for everything physical and anything outdoors. A parade of outdoor sporting gear--bikes, skateboards, wake boards, snow boards--seemed constantly to attach and re-attach itself to his feet. He was Austin-grown, through and through, a perfect fit for this city and its surrounding terrain. He did nothing at half-speed, knew no half-measures and disdained moderation in all things."

"Whether it was piling the neighborhood children into a car for a day at the beach, taking power walks through town, or quietly practicing Tai Chi, Dorothy used the time given her with grace, good humor and indomitable spirit."

He had a chocolate one instead

"He had routines he used to follow and one of them was going to Dunkin Donuts. They treated him greatly. His favorite thing at Dunkin Donuts was a Great One Black, a chocolate coconut and a rainbow sprinkle chocolate top and butternut donuts. If they didn't have the coconut one, he had a double chocolate instead."