Obituary: Beverky (Connery) Dunn-Philumalee - Class of 1950

MADISON / MIDDLETON - Beverly passed away very peacefully on Sunday, Dec. 21, 2014, with her four sons and daughters-in-law by her side at the Villa of Middleton Village Nursing home. Beverly was born in Milwaukee on Sept. 20, 1931, and moved to Madison when she was very young. She attended St. Raphael's and graduated from Madison Central in 1949. Beverly was the second oldest of the 15 children of Maurice and Lucille Connery. Raised in the Greenbush district, Bev had many stories to tell. She married Ronald J. Dunn on June 15, 1950. They lived in a few places before settling on Madison's east side. She worked most of her life in the restaurant business and owned first the Fair Oaks Cafe and then Bev's Restaurant on E. Washington Ave. for over 30 years. After Ron's passing, she moved with her second husband, Harvey Philumalee, to Marshall and helped her son, Jason with a new restaurant, Bev's on Main. Shortly after the move, Harvey and Bev retired in Marshall. When Harvey passed away in 2004, Bev stayed in Marshall until moving to Middleton in 2007. She had a great time living above the Vespa store at Dunn's Import, owned by her son, Jeffrey. As her health diminished, her final move was to the Villa at Middleton Village where the nursing staff and Agrace HospiceCare took exceptional care of her. Beverly was a lifetime member of the VFW women's auxiliary. She and Harvey belonged to the Madison Vintage Auto Club for many years. She especially loved just spending time with family and friends. Bev is survived by her four sons, John (Deidre) of Middleton, Jeff (Susan) of Middleton, Jim (Jean) of Madison and Jason (Beth) of Marshall; and her stepdaughter, Tammy (Tom) Dettinger of Madison. She is also survived by Eight of her 15 brothers and sisters, Don Connery, Joe (Linda) Connery, Mary Lou (Roger) Claus, Emmett (JoAnn) Connery, Tom (Bev) Connery, Sandy (Jim) Bancroft, Tim (Randy) Connery, Jerry (Patty) Connery; brother-in-law, Lenny Small; and sisters-in-law, Carol Connery and Kathy Connery. The list of nephews, nieces, grandkids and great-grandkids would be too overwhelming to list, but do know she loved every one of them very much. She was preceded in death by her parents; her husband, Ronald Dunn in 1981 and her husband Harvey Philumalee in 2004; her siblings, Jean (Dennis) "Dutch" Whitmore, Morris "Muggs" Connery, Richard (Kathryn) Connery, Ruth Ann Small, Pat Connery and Michael Connery. Her spirit will live on through the hearts and minds of all who were fortunate to know and love her. A Celebration of her life will be held at the GUNDERSON EAST FUNERAL AND CREMATION CARE, 5203 Monona Drive, on Saturday, Jan. 24, 2015, from 1 p.m. until 3 p.m. followed by a gathering with food, drink and conversation at EAST SIDE CLUB, 3735 Monona Drive, Madison. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to Agrace HospiceCare. Their services were greatly appreciated.

Originally published in the Wisconsin State Journal on December 28, 2014. Submitted by Michael Vahldieck (Class of 1968)

Note: The graduation year given in the obituary may be incorrect. According to the 1950 Tychoberahn yearbook and the Wisconsin State Journal list of Class of 1950 graduates, Beverly Connery graduated in 1950.

Bradley J. Lightfoot - Class of 1965

FAIRLAND, OKLAHOMA - Bradley Lightfoot, 67, of Fairland passed away Wednesday, December 24, 2014. Services are pending and have been placed in the care of Brown-Winters Funeral Home and Cremation Service in Fairland. Friends and family may send the family notes of encouragement by viewing Mr. Lightfoot’s Tribute Page at http://www.brown-winters.com/obituaries/Bradley-Lightfoot/#!/TributeWall

From the tribute page: "Brad was 9 years younger than me.. No matter how big he became, he will always be " my little brother. " My favorite memory will forever be coming down for breakfast on a Saturday... To find all 5 of my little chickens sitting on the floor .. Watching cartoons.. Enjoying the donuts and penny candy that Uncle Brad brought...I'm so happy for Brad.. He longer [sic] to see Jesus... We were in a race. To see would see our Lord 1st ... Brad won!! I miss him terribly !!!" - Judith R. Mullen - January 25 at 09:08 AM

Bradley J. Lightfoot did not graduate from Madison Central High School, but attended for several years. He would have been a member of the Class of 1965. Brad's older brother, Joe, was a member of the Class of 1962.  

The link to the information provided by the funeral home was provided by Christine Sannes (Class of 1965). Some additional research confirmed that this is/was the Bradley J. Lightfoot who attended CHS.If you have memories of Brad from his days at CHS, please leave a comment on this post.

Obituary: Suzanne Schneider Jones - Class of 1964

ANGOLA, Ind. - The world was blessed with an angel in Suzanne Jones [age 69]. The loving wife, adoring mother, doting grandmother and friend of many was called back to the arms of the Lord on Nov. 29, 2014. Suzanne was born on Oct. 10, 1945, in Madison, to Romie and Lorraine (Lemon) Schneider. The beautiful blonde with a beaming smile attended Madison Central High School, graduating in 1964. It was during her sophomore year there that her life was forever changed. Suzanne began dating a junior named Harold "Skip" Jones, and a 53-year love affair began. The happy couple married in Madison on Aug. 27, 1966. Suzanne and Skip traveled the globe and split time between Lake James in Angola, Ind., and their Hutchinson Island, Fla., condo. Suzanne's warmth, kindness, love and generosity will be missed by every person who was blessed to have known her. Suzanne is survived by the love of her life and soul mate, Skip, her husband of 48 years; her son, Steven, his wife, Stacey, and their children, Hannah, Connor and Hailey of Avon, Ind.; son, Robert, and his wife, Renee, of Union, Mich.; and son, Michael, his wife, Kate, and their children, Jack, Jenna and Cole of Fort Wayne, Ind.. Suzanne is also survived by her sister, Patty Hoffman of Rancho Mirage, Calif.; and brother, Bill Schneider of Poynette. Friends may call from 12 (Noon) until the time of the service at 3 p.m. on Friday, Dec. 5, 2014, at HARTZLER-GUTERMUTH-INMAN FUNERAL HOME, 403 W. Franklin St., Elkhart, Ind. Memorial Contributions

Originally published in the Wisconsin State Journal on December 3, 2014. Submitted by Michael Vahldieck (Class of 1967). 

Note: Suzanne Schneider's class year is based on information provided by the 1964 Tychoberahn yearbook, where she is pictured amongst the graduating seniors.

Obituary: Clara A. "Clare" Di Loreto - Class of 1943

MADISON - Clara A. "Clare" Di Loreto, a lifelong resident of Madison, passed away at home on Saturday, Nov. 29, 2014, two days after her 89th birthday. She was born Chiara Di Loreto on Nov. 27, 1925, the youngest of five children. Her parents, Consiglio Di Loreto and Antonietta Campitelli Di Loreto, had emigrated to Madison from the Abruzzo region of Italy in the first decade of the 20th century. Clare was immensely proud of her heritage. Clare never married but was a big sister or second mother to her many nieces and nephews. She is survived, most immediately, by her loving caretaker and niece, Mary Tortorice; her great-nephew, Brian Tortorice; and her great-great-niece, Savannah Tortorice; along with many other nieces and nephews and their families whom mourn her death and will miss her vibrant personality, her naughty sense of humor, her wonderful stories, and the great interest she took in her family. Clare was preceded in death by her parents; and four siblings, Assunta (Sue) Saccomando of Chicago, Maria Regina (Mary) Tortorice of Madison, Stefano (Steve) Di Loreto of Menasha, and Donato (Dan) of Madison. Clare was what was called, in her day, a career girl. She graduated from Madison Central High School in 1943, received training as a secretary, and spent the next 45 years in that profession. She joined CUNA Mutual Insurance on May 1, 1948, transferring from CUNA Credit Union when her friends at CUNA Mutual told her the parties were better. Clare retired from the organization on May 1, 1988, proud of her 40 years of service to the day. Clare lived a full life, traveling widely in the United States and abroad. She was an excellent league bowler and a fiercely competitive card player. She and a number of her single friends formed a social club called the "Unclaimed Treasures" and had great fun together for many years. Family, friends, her Catholic faith, Chinese food, and pasta were Clare's great passions and enthusiasms. Even in her old age she could polish off a big plate of spaghetti, preferably with red sauce and homemade meatballs or sausage. She became an excellent cook in her retirement; earlier in life she was too busy to spend time in the kitchen. Clare was a member of St. Joseph Parish and (later) of St. Dennis Parish, where she was a member of the Altar Society and a lector at Sunday Masses. A Mass of Christian Burial will be held at ST. DENNIS CATHOLIC CHURCH, 505 Dempsey Road, Madison, at noon, on Friday, Dec. 5, 2014, with Father Randy Timmerman presiding. Burial will follow at Resurrection Cemetery. A visitation will be held at the church from 10 a.m. until the time of the service on Friday. Memorials may be made to St. Dennis Catholic Church.  

Originally published in the Wisconsin State Journal on December 3, 2014. Submitted by Michael Vahldieck (Class of 1968).