All Obituaries

Edith Jeanette (Anderson) Laws, 89, of Coventry, beloved wife to the late Wallace West Laws Sr., passed away Saturday, February 9, 2019. Edith was born in Hartford on January 31, 1930 to the late Eric and Alice (Johnson) Anderson. Edith was a very kind, sweet, warm-hearted individual. She accepted everyone with open arms. Family was very important to Edith. She loved her children and grandchildren very much. Time spent with her family was such a joy and pleasure to her and family gatherings...

William J. Lucas Sr., 68, of Manchester, husband to Michele (Bidwell), passed away Wednesday, February 6, 2019. He was born in Hartford on July 2, 1950, to David and Filomena (Altamura) Lucas. Bill grew up in Hartford, attended local schools and was a graduate of Bulkeley High School, Class of 1970. In 1989, he moved to Manchester where he resided for the remainder of his life. Bill was a truck driver for many years with Ris Paper. He was quite the family man, whenever he had the chance to...

Grace "Gay" Elizabeth (Putnam) Farmer of Hebron, CT passed away January 31, 2019 at 85 years of age.  She was born August 1, 1933 to Oliver and Mae Severance Putnam and was raised in White Plains, New York. Gay was a graduate of White Plains High School, Berkeley Secretarial School and the University of Connecticut where she received both BS and MFA degrees.  She also earned a 6th year equivalency in Humanistic Education.  Gay spent much of her career as an...

Hubert McChesney Duley, Jr., 82 of Manchester, CT died peacefully in his sleep on Wednesday, January 23, 2019 after a brief illness at Manchester Memorial Hospital. Born in Washington, DC in 1936, he was the son of Hubert McChesney Sr. and Audrey (Speake) Duley. He worked for many years in Air Craft Maintenance for US Airways. Hubert served in the Military Police with the United States Army. He is survived by his sons Hubert Duley III and his wife Mary Jane Lara Duley and William Allen...

Dorothea M. “Dottie” Ritzen, 92, of Vernon, beloved wife of the late Curt D. Ritzen died peacefully on Saturday, February 2, 2019 with her family at her side. She was born on January 31, 1927 in Providence, RI., daughter of the late Norman and Dorothy Gervais. Prior to retiring, Dottie was employed as a secretary for over ten years with Aetna Life & Casualty. She was a longtime member of Emanuel Lutheran Church in Manchester. Dottie was a member of Pioneer Lodge #506 V.O.A....

Eugene Spiegel, 77, of Manchester, CT passed away February 5, 2019 surrounded by his family. He was born September 16, 1941 to parents Harry and Dorothy (Frankel) Spiegel in Brooklyn, NY. Eugene received his undergraduate degree from Brooklyn College, before receiving a PhD in mathematics from MIT at a very young age.  He taught at the California Institute of Technology before becoming a math professor at the University of Connecticut.  Gene enjoyed spending time with his family,...

Roberta (Peck) Vater, 90, of Manchester, passed away peacefully on Sunday, January 27, 2019. She was born on December 25, 1928, in New Britain, CT, daughter of the late Robert J. Peck and Doris Peck-Wilkins. Roberta was raised in New Britain, attended public schools and was a graduate of New Britain High School. She earned her B.S. and M.S. from Goddard College in Plainfield, Vermont. Roberta was a gifted jazz vocalist and an accomplished professional musician, performing and composing...

Hanne D’Ortiz, nee Hanne Ute Zegrid Kurtz, 85, of South Windsor who was a child survivor of the Holocaust, died at her home in South Windsor on January 27th 2019. She was born in Prague, Czechoslovakia, on February 8, 1933. Her father was an actor and her Jewish mother was a singer for the National Conservatory.  As a result of the Nazi takeover of Czechoslovakia, her parents went in opposite directions.  Her father joined the German Army and perished in the war. Her mother...

Manuel M. “Jody” Mendes Jr., 89, of Manchester, beloved husband to Frances “Peggy” Mendes passed away Wednesday, January 9, 2019.  He was born in New Bedford, MA, on February 2, 1929, to the late Manuel Sr. and Maria (Elias) Mendes. After serving in the US Air Force, Jody married and worked for the railroad while earning his bachelor’s degree in electrical engineering at the University of Hartford.  He was then employed by United Technologies as a...

Zofia (Pipka) Cymer, 78, of West Hartford, passed away peacefully on Friday, January 18, 2019 after a brief illness. She was born on January 25, 1940 in Prokowo, Poland, daughter of the late Jan and Apolonia Pipka. Zofia is survived by her daughter Eva Rodgers and Eva’s fiancé Bruce Hutchison of West Hartford with whom she made her home, her son and daughter-in-law Piotr and Jessica Cymer of Warrensburg, MO. and four beloved grandchildren: Caitleen, Michelle, Patrick, and...