Lillie Deanie "Deanie" Chiota

TRUMBULL, CT – A Celebration of the Life of Lillie Dean “Deanie” Chiota, age 91, will be held at Our Lady of the Assumption Catholic Church in Trumbull, Connecticut at 9:30 am on Saturday, December 18, 2010. Rev. Msgr. Blasé Gintoli will be the celebrant for the Mass. Mrs. Chiota will be laid to rest with her husband in Mountain Grove Cemetery in Bridgeport.

Mrs. Chiota, known by family and friends as “Deanie”, passed away peacefully on Monday, December 13, 2010 at her residence in New Iberia, Louisiana.

Lillie was born June 8, 1919 in Shongaloo, Louisiana to Jeff and Della Munn Dean. She served in the United States Army as a nurse during WWII, attaining the rank of Lieutenant, and received three battle stars. While serving, she met Dr. Joseph A. Chiota in Needles, CA and later married in Santa Barbara. They settled in Fairfield, CT and lived there for over 50 years. It was in the early 90’s that she moved to New Iberia, LA to be near her son, Dr. Joseph a. Chiota, Jr.

“Deanie” was an avid golfer, having played many of the courses in Fairfield, and the local courses in Louisiana. She enjoyed the time spent with family and friends and will be missed dearly by all who knew and loved her.

Survivors include her daughter, Karen Wagor of Huntington Beach, CA; four grandchildren, Adrian Chiota and Matias Chiota both of New York City, Jeremy Joseph Wagor of Austin, TX, and Suzanne Wagor Halstead of Huntington Beach CA; two great grandchildren, Joshua David Halstead and Katie A. Halstead; her sister, Melba Lowe of Shreveport, LA; and a very dear friend, Anne Cashen of New Iberia, LA.

She was preceded in death by her husband, Dr. Joseph A. Chiota; her sons, Thomas Dean Chiota and Dr. Joseph Anthony Chiota, Jr.; as well as her parents and siblings.

In lieu of flowers, the family would prefer donations to The Preston Robert Tisch Brain Tumor Center, Duke University, DUMC Box 3624, Durham, NC 27710, www.cancer.duke.edu, Questions should be directed to Ellen Sainback at (919) 684-4784.

To view the online obituary and sign the guestbook, please visit www.evangelinefuneralhome.com

Evangeline Funeral Home of New Iberia (337) 364-1881 is in charge of arrangements locally. Redgate-Hennessy Funeral Directors, 4 Gorham Place, Trumbull, CT (203) 372-3587 in charge of arrangements in CT.