Verlie Margaret Kidney
VERLIE MARGARET (DOYLE) KIDNEY Verlie M Kidney, 100, of North Haven, passed away suddenly and peacefully on Sunday, May 17, 2009, during one of her frequent visits to Cape Cod . She was the wife of the late James A Kidney. She is survived by a son, James A Kidney of North Haven . Born on October 22, 1908 in Hartford , CT she was the daughter of William J and Margaret (White) Doyle. Her sisters Gertrude Simpson and Mae Smith predeceased her. She retired from the bookkeeping department of the Second New Haven National Bank in 1973. During the 57 years she resided in North Haven , she was a member of Saint Rita Church. In her early retirement years, she was an active member of Open Door at Spring Glen Church UCC. Verlie is survived by many dearly loved nieces, nephews, cousins, neighbors, and friends. Owing to her cheerful, caring, and congenial personality, several of her dearest neighbors and friends consider her an elder member of their families. Among her closest surviving relatives in Connecticut are Kimberly Smith, Karen Smith, Kristen Smith, Joanne Hetrick, Joan Kidney, and David Kidney and, in Virginia, Joan Gupton, James Simpson, and Jason Simpson. Highlights of her 100th year were a trip to Richmond , VA to attend and dance at her nephew's wedding and a surprise birthday party arranged by neighbors, friends, and family members. Friends may visit with her family at the BEECHER & BENNETT FUNERAL HOME, 2300 Whitney Ave., Hamden, Friday between 9:00 AM and 10:30 AM, before proceeding to a Mass of Christian Burial at 11 AM in Saint Rita Church. Internment will follow in Saint Mary's Cemetery, Whitney & Evergreen Aves., Hamden. Contributions in her memory may be made to Saint Rita Church, 1620 Whitney Ave., Hamden, CT 06517 or to a suitable charity of one's choice.
Dear Jim, We are so sorry about your mother’s passing, I quess we just assumed she would live forever. I am so glad we were able to reconnect and she was able to see little Verlie a few times. I am sorry she didn’t see her this time. I am thankful she didn’t suffer. Please continue to contact us when you come to the Cape. We really want to keep up with you. Please accept our sincere sadness of your mother’s passing, she was a special lady. Love, Donna and little Verlie
I had the chance to have the most wonderful visit this past year with Verlie met her for the first time at my parents house she was there for dinner. She has been very good friends with my Mom for over 50 years. From what my mom tells me she visited me when I was born and they were friends all of these years and I finally met her and it was a most wonderful and inspiring meeting I felt as though I knew her my entire life and I did. God Bless you Verlie. Heaven has a very special angel she inspired all of us and especially my Mom. I made her some Christmas Cookies this past year and she called me to thank me what a wonderful conversation I had with her hearing all of about the Christmas Decorations and how wonderful the cookies were and about my Mom and Dad. I know that my Mom will miss all of her conversations and visits with Verlie and I will miss so much of hearing about her. A wonderful woman and an inspiration to all. May you rest in peace. Our deepest sympathy and condolences are with you Jim and your family and friends. Love Felicia and Ralph (Frances’s daughter)
I will always be thankful to .Aunt. Verlie for adopting me as her other niece. She was always so very kind & loving to all my family. We are so very blessed to have had her in our lives & we will miss her dearly. All my children & grandchildren considered her their .Aunt Verlie. Heaven has just gained another angel. With All Our Love & Prayers, Jan & Ernie,Michael & Daryl,Dave &,Kate.Donna & Erik, Brian & Andrea,Julia,Jaycee,Rachel,Josh,Alex&Nicholas,Emily&Sarah.
Verlie was my best friend and neighbor on Cape Cod for over 30 years. I feel so privileged to have known her. Verlie’s interest,caring and love for other people was extraordinary. Truly an angel on earth! She was a joy and comfort to be around. I will always hear her laughter and her voice in my mind. My deepest sympathy to all who knew and loved Verlie.
We want to extend our deepest sympathy to Jim and family and friends. I met Verlie when she came to work @ Community Bank in 1951 and she attended our wedding we have been friends ever since. Had many wonderful conversations and visits with her. We are truly .long time friends.. You have been an inspiration to us and always will be with us. We are thankful for all of the wonderful memories. May you rest in peace .our friend.. Love Mario and Frances Mastroianni
Hi Jim I was glad to see your Mother again. See was a very sweet woman and what a memory. I’m sure she will be greatly missed. Take care.
There are no words to describe how truly amazing Verlie was. To Jim and the rest of the family, my thoughts and prayers are with you during this difficult time.
Throughout her life, Mrs.Kidney was known for her friendly and caring personality. It will be greatly missed. In spite of her advanced age, she had a more lucid mind than most people half as old. Her sudden passing was unexpected and a great disappointment for all who wished to continue knowing her. My sincere condolences to her son, James Kidney and relatives.
FIRST MEMORIAL VERSE In honor and memory of my Mother, Verlie Kidney, I am posting two memorial texts in her guestbook,. They held special meaning for her. Below is MY HOME, a verse written by my Grandma Doyle. MY HOME Heavy laden is my heart. I cannot bear to leave. This little place I call my home. That means so much to me, A treasured nest that I love best. Within these walls I find A blessing to a weary soul And a heart that is sublime. Pray leave me here to end my days, And when my task is done I’ll close my eyes and thank thee God And ask no favors more When the bright blue skies Fade from my eyes And life’s sad trials are o’er. Verse by Verlie’s Mother, Margaret Loretta (White) Doyle, 1948
SECOND MEMORIAL VERSE Below is the text of a sermon delivered in St. Paul’s Cathedral, London, in May 1910, after the death of King Edward VII. Verlie’s father passed away in 1912. Her Mother (My Grandma Doyle) treasured this text thereafter. ALL IS WELL Death is nothing at all. It does not count. I have only slipped away into the next room. Nothing has happened. Everything remains exactly as it was. I am I, and you are you. Whatever we were to each other, that we are still. Call me by the old familiar name. Speak to me in the easy way which you always used. Put no difference into your tone. Wear no forced air of solemnity or sorrow. Laugh as we always laughed at the little jokes that we enjoyed together. Play, smile, think of me, pray for me. Let my name be ever the household word that it always was. Let it be spoken without effort, without the ghost of a shadow upon it. Life means all that it ever meant. It is the same as it ever was. There is absolute and unbroken continuity. What is this death but a negligible accident? Why should I be out of mind because I am out of sight? I am waiting for you, for an interval, somewhere very near, just round the corner. All is well. Nothing is past; nothing is lost. One brief moment and all will be as it was before. How we shall laugh at the trouble of parting when we meet again! Canon Henry Scott Holland (1847-1918)
While I was attending Yale with Jim Kidney, my future wife, Photine Eliopoulos, was working with Mrs.Kidney at the 2nd National Bank of New Haven. She was a very young and insecure immigrant from Greece with no relatives in the USA. Living alone at the New Haven YWCA, she was saving all her money to bring her entire five member family to the USA. The critical importance of Kidney’s friendship to Photine in those days cannot be measured. She and her late husband, James Kidney, were among the few close friends who attended our wedding at Saint Barbara’s Greek Orthodox Church on March 10, 1962. Mrs.Kidney’s cheerful and supporting kindness to Photine and I will never be forgotten. Walter Sterling, Jr.
We were so sorry to hear of Verlie’s passing. She was a dear friend, neighbor and .grandmother. to my children. 14 years ago when we moved into our home, Verlie welcomed us into the neighborhood with open arms. Our family was blessed by her unending warmth, cheerfulness and love. Her kindness new no limits-she never forgot one of the kids birthdays or a holiday and was always interested in them and their lives. Verlie was an exceptional person, an inspiration to us all. We will miss her deeply but will remeber her and her warmth always. Our deepest sympathy to Jim and all her family and friends. Our prayers and thoughts are with you.