Donald R. Bleuher, 91, of Oak Brook, Illinois, died peacefully on the morning of Aug, 6. Don was born Feb. 24, 1932, the son of George and Agnes (O’Con- nor) Bleuher, and grew up in Winsted. He attended the Gilbert School and graduated from the University of Connecticut.
In 1957, Don met Rosemary DeSmedt and they were married for 64 years. Don and Rosemary had six children, 16 grandchildren and two great grandchildren, and resided in Villa Park, Illinois, for 38 years and then Oak Brook.
Don was a devoted husband, father, brother, grandfather, great grandfather, and beloved uncle of many nieces and nephews. Family and friends were central to his life. He made friends easily and was a committed correspondent, making it a point to keep in touch with those that he cared about. Don was in sales for the McCall Pat- tern Company for 40 years where he traveled throughout the Midwest. He and Rosemary developed many lifelong friends through Cursillo and their own small faith community. Don loved sports – most especially UConn basketball, the Chicago Cubs, Bears and Bulls – as well as reading, music, and a good cigar. Don was an unwavering advocate for peace and justice, and volunteered for the St. Vincent de Paul Society at St. Pius X.
Don was preceded in death by his wife Rosemary, his brothers George Bleuher and Ernie Bleuher, and his sisters Eleanor Scalise and Marie Sherman Kimball. He is survived by his sister Dorothy Kovachich; his six children, Denise (Tim) Angst, Tracy (Pat) Pohl, Michael (Tracy), Chris (Maggie), Tim and Paul (Julie); his grand- children and great grandchildren.
A time of remembrance and appreciation was to be held on Aug. 24 at Steuerle Funeral Home with the funeral mass at St. Pius X, 1025 E. Madison St., Lombard, IL.
In lieu of flowers, please consider making a donation to the Society of St. Vincent de Paul.
A memorial service to celebrate the life of former Pleasant Valley and New Hartford resident Karin J. Barlow will be held Saturday, Aug. 12, at 11 a.m. at Camp Trinita, 595 Town Hill Road, Route 219, New Hartford.
Karin June (Friberg) Barlow, 91, a former resident of Barkhamsted, New Hartford and Torrington, died May 23, 2023, at Geer Nursing and Rehabilitation Center in Canaan from natural causes. She was the beloved wife of the late Ted W. Barlow.
Karin was born April 4, 1932, in Shreveport, La., one of twin daughters born to Oscar and Norma (Carlson) Friberg. She grew up in Pasadena, Calif. While in sixth grade, Karin had to stay home from school because of rheumatic fever. During this time, she read the Sue Barton series of novels about a young student nurse, which inspired her. She graduated from Pasadena High School and Pasadena City College and was accepted into the nursing school at Stanford University.
While she was living in San Francisco, one Sunday morning at church she met a young Marine from New York state named Ted Barlow. She first saw him as he knelt to talk to a small child and thought to herself, “What a kind man.”She was never more correct. They wed Jan. 15, 1955, in Pasadena and were happily married for 67 years until Ted’s death last year.After receiving her degree from Stanford, Karin embarked on a career of more than 40 years as a hospital nurse, visiting nurse and school nurse.
In Litchfield County, she worked at, among other places, Winsted Memorial Hospital, Brooker Memorial, Foothills VNA, Torrington’s Forbes School and New Hartford’s Ann Antolini School. She had a beautiful singing voice from a young age, loved to sing in church choirs and often was a soloist in Sunday worship services at the churches in Pleasant Valley (where Ted was pastor for five years) and Bakerville. She also had the unofficial titles of head cook and camp nurse for a dozen years at Camp Trinita in New Hartford while Ted was the executive director from 1972-84.Karin began attending church as a girl and developed a deep Christian faith that guided her life. She had a limitless capacity to forgive and an endless supply of love for others.
Karin is survived by her children, Bill (Inger), of Oberlin, Ohio; Steve, of Torrington; Wayne (Christine) of Fairlee, Vt.; Greta (Doug) Passeri, of Pine Plains, N.Y., and Nancy, of Vernon; grandchildren Anna (William), Kristen, Ryan (Alex), Samantha (Bismark), Kaitlyn (Danny) and Tanner; great grandchildren Will, Oliver, Lena and Theo; twin sister Libby of Virginia and younger sister Greta of Colorado, and 15 nieces and nephews, whom she loved dearly.
Memorial donations are suggested to FISH, 332 S. Main St., or the Operation Overflow homeless shelter, c/o Trinity Episcopal Church, 220 Prospect St., both in Torrington.
A celebration of Karin’s life is being planned for Aug. 12 at Camp Trinita in New Hartford. Online condolences can be made at www.kelsocorneliusfh.com.
Who was the well-known and appreciated humanist Xhevar Adili, known to many friends and customers as Joe at DifRanco’s restaurant? He was born in 1965 in Ladorisht, Albania. Xhevar attended primary school in his native place, then Niko Nestor secondary school. Xhevar Adili emigrated like everyone else to the USA, where he started working in a restaurant. In addition to work, Xhevar was active in all Albanian clubs and associations. He talked often out his experiences and the long stays on the streets of New York.
As a member of the Albanian club Hasan Prishtina in Waterbury, he supported many humanitarian activities. If you cross the road and head north to Litchfield and ask about Di Franco’s restaurant, you will learn that the owner is the humanist Joe Adili as soon as you enter the walls of the restaurant. DiFranco’s features photos of the village of Ladorisht and the city of Struge. There are also the songs of Selami Kolonje that accompany the start of work in the morning. The customers of the restaurant are curious to know about the importance of the photos on the wall. While Xhevari is hungry he tells them about his birthplace and origin. In addition to the menu and the facilities in the restaurant, all customers feel proud to meet the owner of the restaurant. The call is often heard: “Where is Joe?” Life really has sacrifices. Xhevar really worked for a better life. He contributed to the society.
The family, the society and the circle where they live will remember him fondly. The Adili family: Miliferi, Genci, Valoni, Jetoni and Alibioni are proud of Xhevar.
Rest in peace my friend — God Bless you Joe.
Dorothea Elizabeth “Dottie” (Miller) Murray, of Canton, died Tuesday, January 31, 2023 at her home on her 85th birthday. Born in Cincinnati, OH, she was the daughter of the late Bruce Ervin and Elizabeth Miller and had lived in Canton Connecticut for over 40 years. Dottie graduated from Madera High school in 1956, and from Miami University, Oxford Ohio Class of 1960. Mrs. Murray was employed full time as an Auditor for Guardian Reed group for 24 years after retiring from Cigna life health, where she was employed for 38 years. She was a member of the Canton Commission on Aging. Dottie enjoyed sewing, cooking, her gardens and many cultural events including live theater, music performances, flea markets, antique shows and of course playing her own piano.
She is survived by her son, William J. Murray of West Hartford, and her brother Bruce Miller of Hamilton, Ohio and her sister Ruth Rucker, of North Bend Ohio. She was predeceased by her twin Brother David Miller of Spotsylvania Virginia. She lived a life of selflessness, always humble displaying loyalty kindness and caring for strangers and friends alike.
Donations in her memory may be made to South Park Inn a shelter in Hartford, CT or the Jimmy Fund.
Submitted by the Murray family