Category Archives: Obituaries

Death Announced of Judith “Judy” W. Simmons, 93; Active, Longtime Member of First Congregational Church of Old Lyme; Celebration of Life to be Held Jan. 11, 2025

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ESSEX—Judith “Judy” W. Simmons, beloved wife, mother, grandmother, great-grandmother and friend to many passed away at the age of 93 years, Sept. 15, 2024, after a short illness. She was born in Brockton, Mass., April 12, 1931, to Raymond and Morna Gertrude White, where she resided throughout her entire childhood.

Judy graduated from Brockton High School and Boston Children’s School of Nursing, and then without hesitation, married the love of her life, Philip N. Simmons … Judy and Phil settled in East Lyme in 1956, where they transformed an old farmhouse into a beautiful and welcoming home and raised their family for the next 52 years …

Judy was an active member of the First Congregational Church of Old Lyme where she served on many of its boards and committees, for which she was honored as a Deacon Emeriti. She and Phil, with their friend Nathalie Fogg, ran a cultural tour, “New England Experience,” under the umbrella of the church which welcomed people from Great Britain to enjoy our region …

Judy and Phil moved to Essex Meadows in 2008 …

Judy was predeceased by her parents; her beloved husband of 62 years; and two grandchildren, Brian David Simmons and Morna Paige Marolda. She is survived by her five children: Dana (Julie) of Summerfield, N.C., Jane of Salem, David (Kathy) of Jamestown, R.I., Jonathan (Lisa) of Niantic, and Jeffrey (Tara) of Tisbury, Mass. She is also survived by 13 grandchildren; seven great-grandchildren; and Daniel Jones of Texas, and Susan Heske of Colorado …

A celebration of her life will be held at 2 p.m. Jan. 11, 2025, at the First Congregational Church of Old Lyme. In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations in Judy’s memory be sent to the First Congregational Church of Old Lyme and be earmarked for the David W. Good Memorial Fund …

Visit this link to read the full obituary published by The Day on Dec. 14, 2024.

Death Announced of Armand Romeo of Old Lyme, Father of Alex Romeo of OL

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OLD LYME — On Dec. 7, 2024, Armand Romeo died at his home in Old Lyme. A mass will be held at 11 a.m. Dec. 14, at Christ the King Church in Old Lyme …

Armand Anthony Romeo was born in New Britain to Armando and Maria Romeo Nov. 11, 1934. When he moved to Old Lyme in seventh grade he met the love of his life, Barbara Mather. They were married in 1952 and lived in Old Lyme for over 55 years …

Armand was predeceased by his three brothers, Fred, Sam, and Vincent; his wife Barbara; and his eldest son Christopher Romeo. He leaves behind three children, Alex (Patrice) Romeo, Susan (Robert) Malestein, and Leslie Romeo; as well as daughter-in-law Deborah Romeo. He also leaves behind his grandchildren, Anthony, Samantha, Lauren, Sophia, Carly, Quinn, Maia and Rowan …

Editor’s Note: Visit this link to read the full obituary published Dec. 11, 2024 by The Day.

Death Announced of Ronald John Procko, Father of Nicholas Procko of Old Lyme

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NEW BRITAIN/OLD LYME—It is with deep sorrow and heavy hearts that we announce the untimely passing of Ronald John Procko, aged 67, of New Britain, Connecticut, who left us on November 14, 2024. …

Born on October 20, 1957, Ron was a devoted father who cherished time spent with family …

Ron is survived by his son, Nicholas Procko and his wife Keri and their children Carmela and Sebastian of Old Lyme, Connecticut, his daughter Christina Brice and her husband Spencer and their children Jackson and Cameron of Wesley Chapel, Florida, his sister Beverly Melenski and her husband David of Bristol, Connecticut, his girlfriend Leslie Raymond, of New Britain, Connecticut …

Though the circumstances of Ron’s death are untimely and tragic, we remember him not by the way he left this world, but by the way he lived in it …

Funeral services will be held on Thursday, November 21, 2024 at 9:30 AM at Erickson-Hansen Funeral Home, 411 So. Main St., New Britain, followed by a Mass of Christian Burial at 10:30 AM at St. Joseph Church, 195 So. Main St, New Britain, CT 06051. Calling hours are Wednesday, November 20, from 4-7 PM at the funeral home …

Editor’s Note: Visit this link to read the full obituary published in the Hartford Courant from November 19, 2024.

Death Announced of Thomas David Lyons of Old Lyme, Husband of Maureen Hanley

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OLD LYME—Thomas David Lyons, of Old Lyme, passed away Nov. 8, 2024. He was born March 3, 1945, in New London, son of the late James and Mary Lyons.

Thomas graduated from Saint Bernard High School in 1963, and then enlisted in the United States Marine Corps …

On July 11, 1970, he married Maureen Hanley, who survives him …

In addition to his wife, Thomas is survived by his daughter Christine Nowak and her fiancé Christopher Going, of Deep River; son Thomas Patrick Lyons and his wife Heather Fenn of Norwich; daughter Katharine DiDonna and husband Aaron of Ledyard; … and cousins, Cindy and Donnie Green [of Old Lyme.] In addition to his parents, Thomas was predeceased by his sister Katherine; aunt and uncle Barbara and Leslie Grimes …

Calling hours will be held from 5 to 7 p.m. Monday, Nov. 18, at Fulton-Theroux Funeral Home, 13 Beckwith Lane, Old Lyme. A graveside service with military honors will be held at 1 p.m. Tuesday, Nov. 19, at Duck River Cemetery, Old Lyme. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to: Lyme Fire Company or Lyme Ambulance Association.

Editor’s Note: Visit this link to read the full obituary published by ‘The Day’ on Nov. 14, 2024.

Death Announced of Robert C. Florin Jr., 63, of Old Lyme, Husband of ‘The Day’ Journalist Karen Florin

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Robert C. Florin Jr.

OLD LYME—Robert C. Florin Jr., 63, of Old Lyme, died Sunday, Nov. 3, 2024, following a brief illness.

Bob was a one-of-a-kind man, passionate about the people and pastimes he loved, mechanically gifted, generous with his time and a lifelong learner and teacher. As a young man, he enjoyed fishing, skiing, camping and attending concerts. During their 33-year marriage, he enjoyed walking through the woods with his wife Karen (Webber) Florin and their dogs Jericho and Jett, traveling and spending time with family. He was an avid news consumer, expert target shooter and a master crossword puzzle and Sudoku solver.

He was born in Yonkers, N.Y., Jan. 11, 1961, to Robert C. Florin Sr. and Kathleen H. “Dolly” Florin, who predeceased him. He attended Sacred Heart Grade School in Yonkers. The Florins moved to Chester in 1971 and later settled in Old Lyme.

Robert graduated from Xavier High School in Middletown in 1979. After attending Middlesex Community College, he returned to New York, where he became a journeyman electrician with IBEW Local 501, retiring in 2021 as a master electrician.

In addition to his wife, he is survived by his three sisters, having been a loving big brother to Kathleen Emerson, Mary Elizabeth Florin, Patricia Florin and her partner Kenneth Emerson of Old Lyme. He was predeceased by his brother-in-law Dean Emerson.

The four Florin siblings grew up in a tightknit group of eight with their cousins, Anne Marie (Horrigan) Menton of Yonkers, Eileen (Horrigan) Drescher of Duanesburg, N.Y. and the late John Horrigan and Barbara (Horrigan) Thiemann, both of Yonkers.

Robert was a loving son-in-law to Mary Webber of Merritt Island, Fla., and was close with his brother-in-law John Webber and his wife, Marcie Webber of Glastonbury, and his sister-in-law Melanie Webber of Merritt Island.

Many people called him “Uncle Bob,” but he was dearest to those who held the official title of niece or nephew, including Cristine Emerson and Joshua D’Lizarraga of Old Lyme, Katherine Machol of East Lyme, Candice Webber and Jenna Webber, both of Middletown, Cara Webber of Waterford, John Webber Jr. of Garner, N.C. and Oliver Gates of Merritt Island.

He will be sadly missed by his relatives in the Roche, Horrigan, Brown, Florin and Crimmins families and the hundreds of friends he had gathered from near and far.

Bob was a proud, longtime member of the Niantic Sportsmen’s Club, the Raven’s social club and the American Legion.

Calling hours will be from 5 to 7 p.m. Friday, Nov. 8, at the Fulton-Theroux Funeral Home, 13 Beckwith Lane in Old Lyme. A Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 10 a.m. Saturday, Nov. 9, at Christ the King Church, 1 McCurdy Road, Old Lyme, followed by interment in the Duck River Cemetery.

Please visit www.fultontherouxoldlyme.com for photos, tributes and directions.

To plant trees in memory, please visit the Sympathy Store.

Editor’s Note: This obituary was originally published by ‘The Day’ on Nov. 6, 2024.