Victoria C. Bartiss
Victoria C. Bartiss, age 100, of Wallingford, formerly of West Haven passed away on March 7, 2017. Victoria was born on December 18, 1916 in West Haven, the daughter of the late Theodore Clarke & Victoria (Snyder) Clarke. She was the widow of Clifford L. Bartiss, Sr.; mother of Clifford L. Bartiss, Jr. & his wife Jane of Bruffton, SC and Thomas C. Bartiss & his wife Ann of West Haven; grandmother of Clifford Bartiss III & his wife Jackie, Thomas Bartiss & his wife Rose, Jennifer Bartiss-Earley and Lauri Bartiss-Neely & her husband John; great-grandmother of Tyler, Owin, Taylor, Emily, Gehrig, & Allison; and sister of the late Dorothea Forbers & Teddy Clarke. Victoria was a lifelong resident of West Haven and worked in the Cosmetics Department of the former Edward E. Malley Co. in New Haven for 19 years before retiring in 1980. She was a lifelong member of Christ Episcopal Church (Church of the Holy Spirit) in West Haven and was a member for many years of Eastern Star Golden Rod, Chapter #34 in West Haven where she has served as a Past Worthy Matron. Friends are invited to attend Victoria's Memorial Service on Saturday, June 10th at 11:00 AM in the Church of the Holy Spirit, West Haven. Her interment will be private. Arrangements are in care of BEECHER & BENNETT - TAYLOR FUNERAL HOME, 410 Campbell Ave, West Haven. Contributions in her memory may be made to; Church of the Holy Spirit, 28 Church St., West Haven, CT 06516.
50 years ago in the fall of 1966 my parents purchased a home in a great working class area of West Haven ….I was age 4 and just beginning to take in this big complex world around me, (what a glorious time it was to be a kid ! ) Soon after our arrival we met our new neighbors, Cliff, Vicky, Cliff Jr. and Tommy.
From day one they welcomed us and we felt more like family than neighbor. I drove Cliff Sr. nuts following him around like a shadow, (he liked it) and all the while over the years I learned SO much from that man who felt something like a 3rd grandfather. Very meticulous man with an eye for detail and I like to think those fine traits rubbed off on me.
Not long after moving in I noticed this high pitched beep which would be followed by the front door slamming and one or both of the boys running to the car, ( a massive Chrysler convertible) and they went ripping down the street…but why Cliff ? He took me inside and showed me a red box called a Plectron and because his sons were firemen that radio told them when and where there was a fire, WOW ! Not long after Tommy took me to the fire station and sat me up in the front seat of a brand new ladder truck, then one day to a brush fire….My childhood hero had planted the seed and just 15 years later I followed in the Bartiss brothers footsteps by joining the volunteers and now a Plectron was sending me off fires which no doubt stirred a variety of memories and emotions in Cliff and Vicky. After a fire I heard, . Thanks Jr. now I know I’m REALLY gettin old ! . from Cliff and . Oh you STINK ! I don’t miss that at all . from Victoria – 4 years later I was blessed with a career position in the fire service. Thank you Tom, you were my hero and a roll model with impact on my life beyond anything you could imagine.
Vicky aka grandma number 3 .. Well the 1st thing that comes to mind was the best barbecue around ….I can still taste the ribs she made and would always go out of her way to save me a dish, what a treat ! Hands down she kept the cleanest house on the street…must have washed the windows 2 or 3 times a year and I guess THAT rubbed off too having owned a residential window cleaning service for over 25 years ?
My high school girlfriend and I had split and the experts were all telling me to move on etc. and I almost did. But Vicky noticed me pouting around and I remember clear as yesterday her words of wisdom…. Heck with everybody else… do you really really love her Bobby ? Do YOU think this is the one ? Then do what your heart says and go get her back ! .
In our wedding video she said, Best of luck etc ..then off camera . You picked the right one kid, I can tell . Guess she was right -30 years ago ! …3 kids and a grandchild later
I could write a book but that is my Bartiss story. Very important people who helped shape my life
I pray she finds eternal life in the heaven God has prepared for the best of his children. Confidence is high !