Iris Tomms Kiss

MERIDEN - Iris Tomms Kiss, 90, formerly of 88 Milton Drive, died Tuesday, Jan. 13, 2004, at the Masonic Geriatric Healthcare Center in Wallingford. She was the wife of the late Aaron Kiss. Born in Wallingford on Dec. 31, 1913, she was the daughter of the late Francis H. and Charlotte Thacker Tomms. She attended schools in Wallingford and Meriden and graduated from Laurel College in Meriden. She was the principal of Water's Edge Baptist Day School in Maryland. Iris was a member of Meridian Chapter #8, Order of Eastern Star; historian of Westwood Court #5, Order of Amaranth; member of Meriden Woman's Club; American Legion Auxiliary Unit 45, where she won the State Silver Cup for Americanism, Publicity and Endeavors and, in addition, she served the Auxiliary during WW II as Americanism chairman and won the Silver Cup for Americanism and Publicity; chairman of decorations for many years for different organizations including the Fellowcraft Club of Meriden. She was president of the Meriden Fellowcraft Wives' Circle, also Circle #3 at the First Congregational Church and for several years was in charge of decorations for the Annual May Breakfast. She was active, along with her husband Aaron Kiss, in the Meriden Bicentennial as a liaison between the American Legion Auxiliary #45 and the Bicentennial Committee. She was a hostess for many overflow tables for the annual Christmas luncheon of the Meriden Woman's Club, as well as writing poetry for Pegasis for the Meriden newspaper. She is survived by a son, Robert William Arther of Meriden; a daughter, Iris Arther Maturo of Swazyne, Virginia; four grandchildren, John Wesley Arther III of Meriden, William Arther of Punta Gorda, FL, Frederick Arther of Monroe and Iris Gail Maturo of Swazyne, VA; nine great-grandchildren, Ryan Arther, Stephen Arther, Kevin Arther and Michael Arther, all of Monroe, Rebecca Arther, Lilly Arther and John Arther, all of Meriden, William Arther of Southington and Iris Maturo of Swazyne, VA; a sister, Ida Tomms Rowe; two brothers, Laurence F. Tomms and John H. Tomms; and four stepchildren, Francis Brown, Nelson Kiss, Lucille Goodale and Peggy Gervascio. She was predeeased by a son, John Wesley Arthur II and a sister, Winifred Tomms Cooke. The funeral will be held Friday at 10 a.m. at All Saints Episcopal Church, 201 West Main St., Meriden. The Rev. Irving Sherm Gagnon will officiate. Burial will be in Walnut Grove Cemetery. Relatives and friends may call Thursday from 4 to 8 p.m. at the Beecher and Bennett Flatow Funeral Home, 48 Cook Ave., Meriden.