Beverly Bittiner Ahlers

Beverly Bittiner Ahlers, age 97, passed away Thursday afternoon, July 23, 2026 at the Essex Meadows Health Center in Essex, CT. She was the beloved wife of Stanley Ahlers who passed in 2014. Bev is survived by her sons, Doug Ahlers, of New Orleans, LA, Scott Ahlers and his wife Patricia, of Middletown, CT, and James Ahlers deceased, and her grandchildren, Katie Ahlers and her husband Jeff Kratz of Etna, NH and Kevin Tomassetti, his wife Jillian, and great grandson Brayden of Weston, CT. Beverly was born December 8, 1928 in Yonkers, NY to Walter and Olga (Kilpatrick) Bittiner. She grew up in Yonkers, NY, attending Alfred University and then getting her B.S. in Dental Hygiene from Columbia University School of Dental and Oral Surgery. She worked as a Dental Hygienist before marrying the boy next store, Stan Ahlers in 1951. After a couple of years in Yonkers, they built a home in Armonk, NY, where they lived for 30 years and raised their 3 boys. Bev worked as a Dental Hygienist and was active in the PTA and Armonk garden club, winning several blue ribbons for creative flower arrangements. In 1987 Bev and Stan retired to their summer home in Old Lyme Shores, where they spent the next 22 years, getting involved in the community and travelling. Bev continued with her love for flowers, working part time as a professional floral designer for a firm in Greenwich, CT. She was a member of Saint Ann’s church in Old Lyme, a member of the Duck River Garden Club, and a member of the Old Lyme Country Club. She enjoyed watercolor painting, joined the Lyme Art Association and was a Docent at the Florence Griswold Museum. In 2009, Bev and Stan moved to Essex Meadows, which allowed them to continue to enjoy their friendships from Old Lyme while making numerous friends there. To honor Beverly’s life, a short memorial service will be held at Saint Ann’s Episcopal Church in Old Lyme with a date to be determined. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions in Beverly’s name may be made to the Essex Meadows Scholarship Foundation, 30 Bokum Road, Essex, CT 06426.