Obituaries: October 2026
Gathered from Town Clerks' Offices
BETHLEHAM
Salvatore Joseph Zarella
Sal, 101, of Bethlehem, died Oct. 14 at St. Mary’s Hospital in Waterbury. Sal was born on July 10, 1925, in New Rochelle, New York, the son of the late Salvatore and Jennie Zarrella. Survivors include children Dennis, Gerald, John, Teresa, Susan, and Mark; grandchildren Christine, Scott, Catie, Lauren, Nicholas, Matthew, Joseph, Mark, Jenna, Michael, Alyssa, John, Emily, Kelly, Ryan, Michelle, and Eric; 11 great-grandchildren; brothers Andrew and Daniel; and several nieces and nephews.
Sally Campbell Woodhall
Sally, 88, of Bethlehem, died on Oct. 3. She was born on June 18, 1938, in Norwalk, the daughter of the late Francis and Abbie. Survivors include two children, Sarah and Matthew; and six grandchildren. She was predeceased by her daughter Abigail.
CANAAN/FALLS VILLAGE
William Torrant
William F. “Bill” Torrant, 83, died at his home Oct. 10. Born in Canaan on Aug. 1, 1943, Bill lived his entire life in Litchfield. He was the eldest son of Francis and Mary. In addition to his wife Sharon, he is survived by children Jeffrey, Andeen, David, and Andrew; six grandchildren; a great-grandchild; multiple siblings; and several nieces and nephews.
Patricia Lindsay “Pat” Shakshober
Pat, 95, died Sept. 30 at her home in Canaan. She was born on Oct. 15, 1930, to Stuart and Mary Elizabeth Lindsay in Westwood, New Jersey. Survivors include children Caryl, Susan, Stuart, Patricia, and John; eight grandchildren; four great-grandchildren; her sister Sandra; and several nieces. She was preceded in death by one daughter, Lynne.
GOSHEN
Dolores Spring Dolores 72, of Goshen, died at her home Oct. 10. The wife of Craig, she was born April 26, 1954, in Brookfield, the daughter of the late Christian and Margaret Armbruster. In addition to her husband, she is survived by her children Douglas and Kevin; sisters Kimberly, Christine, and Marge; as well as four grandchildren: Kent, Arielle, Tyler, and Gracie.
LITCHFIELD
John Gretton Willink
John, 87, of Litchfield died on Oct. 13. He was born on June 9, 1939, in West Point, New York. Survivors include his wife, Robin; children: Jennie, Jocko, and Julie; grandchildren: Freja, Rana, Thor, Zisa, Grady, and Poppy; and great-grandson Tyr.
MORRIS
Eliot Wadsworth II Eliot, 84, died on Oct. 11 at home. He was born in Boston and raised in Beverly Farms, Massachusetts. Survivors include his wife, Annick; children Sandra Auchincloss, Eliot, Eve, and Natalie; and 12 grandchildren.
Bette-Ann Moran Dest
Bette, 89, of Morris died Sept. 27 at HavenCare at Valerie Manor in Torrington following a battle with Alzheimer’s disease. Bette was born in Troy, New York, the daughter of the late Joseph and Ingeborg. She was predeceased by her husband, Stephen, and her siblings Patricia and Brearton. Survivors include her four children: Michele, Sharon, Cassandra, and Kayla.
THOMASTON
Nicolas A. “Nick” Schiavo Nick, 46, of Thomaston died Oct. 6 at Yale New Haven Hospital after a brief illness. He was born in Waterbury on Jan. 6, 1980, son of James and Sandra. Survivors include his wife, Carolyn; father James; paternal grandmother Grace; brother James; and several nieces and nephews.
Rose Marie St. Denis
Rose, 93, of Thomaston, died Sept. 27 surrounded by family. Rose was born in Waterbury, on Aug. 29, 1933, the daughter of the late Rosa Campobasso and Pellegrino Juliano. Rose was predeceased by her husband, John; and her siblings, Florence, Pasqualina, Mario, Louis, and Johnny. Survivors include her sister Lucille; children Linda, Gary, Sandra, and John; nine grandchildren; 16 greatgrandchildren; and many nieces and nephews.
TORRINGTON
Lidia Bertoldi
Lidia, 99, died Oct. 14 at Torrington’s Charlotte Hungerford Hospital. She was born in West Stockbridge, Massachusetts, in 1927. Survivors include children Marshall, Deborah, and Patti; and grandchildren Bridget, Matthew, Allison, and Bryan Avenia.
Catherine Durstin
Catherine, 92, died Oct. 11. Born and raised in Torrington, Catherine was the daughter of the late Ulrich and Catherine. Survivors include one daughter, Mary; grandchildren Melissa and Michael; and greatgrandchildren William and Ella.
Elizabeth “Betsy” Quartiero
Betsy, 83, of Torrington died Oct. 9 at Wolcott Hall Nursing Home in Torrington. Betsy was born Feb. 4, 1943, in Torrington, the daughter of the late William and Lena Ostrander. Survivors include children Jo Ellen, Krystine, and Bill; grandchildren Erika, Andrew, Aiden, Paige and Tyler; one great-grandchild; and two nieces.
Diane M. Skarupa
Diane died Oct. 9. She was the wife of the late Thomas A. Skarupa, Jr. Diane was born in Torrington on Jan. 15, 1950, daughter of the late Raymond and Claire (Couture) Cristaldi. Survivors include siblings James, Robert, Linda, Janice, and Mary; nephews Raymond, Matthew, Mark, and Edward. She was predeceased by sister Cherie and niece Cindy.
Charles Martinotti
Charles, of Torrington, died Oct. 6 at Hartford Hospital. He was born in Torrington on June 26, 1943, the son of the late Dino and Rose. Survivors include his wife; two children; several grandchildren; and a brother.
Karen Jean Krupinski
Karen, of Torrington, died Oct. 3 at Charlotte Hungerford Hospital in Torrington. Born on May 20, 1953, in Torrington, she was the daughter of John and Eleanore. Survivors include a brother, Thomas; and a niece.
Marlene J. Frigo
Marlene J. (Carrozzo) Frigo, of Torrington, died Oct. 1. Marlene was the daughter of the late Martin and Rhoda. Survivors include children Lisa, Maria, Anita, Dina, and Cristina; grandchildren Jordan, Nicholas, and Emily; and several nieces and nephews.
Donald B. “Don” Peck
Don, 96, died Sept. 27. He was born on June 21, 1930, in Torrington, son of Alta and Donald. Survivors include children Deborah, Cynthia, and Donald; grandsons Ryan, Riley, and Ian; and great-grandson Robert.
WASHINGTON
None listed
WINSTED
Patricia “Pat” Marchell
Pat, 90, of Winsted, died Oct. 12 at Charlotte Hungerford Hospital in Torrington. Born in Thomaston on May 20, 1936, she was the daughter of the late Madison Johnson and Eileen. Survivors include her halfbrother, Tommy; stepchildren Joe, Janet, and Joan; and nieces and nephews Kevin, Eddie, Jody, Cynthia, Conrad, Robert, Mark, and Christopher. She was predeceased by her first husband Alec; her second husband Andrew; her son Eric; and her siblings, Peter, Edward, and June.
Peter John Lefeber
Peter, 71, of Branford, died on Oct. 10 after a short illness. Peter was born in Winchester on July 13, 1955, to Peter and Lois. Survivors include his wife, Catherine; brothers David, Glen, and John; children Peter, Sarah, and John; and seven grandchildren. He was predeceased by his parents.
