Iris N. Wills

Iris Nellie Gough Schoen Wills, 88, of Chester, passed peacefully from this life on January 17, 2013, at Hospice in Branford. Iris was the beloved wife of the late James L. Wills. She was born May 20, 1924, in Haydon Wick, Swindon, England, to Arthur Herbert and Nellie Gough.

Iris was most proud of her family and her English heritage. She wrote a book as a legacy for her family. Her book entitled, “I remember Haydon Wick” told stories of her life growing up in the little village of Hayden Wick, until at the age of 21 years old she boarded the ship the S.S. Uruguay on March 28, 1946, in Southampton, England to travel to the United States to join the American soldier she had married. She and her new husband settled in Clinton where they raised their two children. Iris taught Sunday school at the First Church of Christ Congregational in Clinton during the 1950s. She loved gardening and flowers, especially the wild flowers that grew plentiful in the open fields of her hometown. She also was an avid hummingbird watcher and looked forward to every spring for their arrival. She spent happy hours looking out her windows and enjoying their many antics. She loved to knit and especially liked to teach others to knit and crochet.

Iris is survived by her daughter Gloria Schoen McQueeney and her husband Thomas of Westbrook and her brother Raymond Gough and his wife Jean of Swindon. She is also survived by three grandchildren; John Robert Schoen of California, Jacqueline Re Cacace and her husband Lorenzo of Chester, and Sean Morrisey of Middletown. She leaves four great grandchildren; Jarrett Cacace of California, Alexina Hebert, Sabrina Cacace, and Nicolo Cacace all of Chester. In addition, she leaves her dear friend Kay Fletcher of Chester, a fellow Brit, and several nieces and nephews both in the United States and England. She was predeceased by her son, John Arthur Schoen, her sister Margaret Gladys and four brothers; Arthur Lesley, Cyril William, Harold Nelson, and Douglas James. A memorial service is planned for early spring in her hometown of Swindon. Burial will be private.