Wilma June Pershken, 89, of Bristol, passed away peacefully Sunday, Nov. 13, at New Britain General Hospital. Wilma was born Jan. 17, 1933, in Callicoon, N.Y., daughter of the late Alton and Julia Maurer. She grew up in Callicoon on a small dairy farm with her sister Virginia. She attended Cobleskill College where she graduated with an associate’s degree in nutrition. After graduation, Wilma moved to Hartford, Conn., where she worked as a dietician. In 1960 she married the late Richard “Dick” Pershken and moved to Bristol. Wilma was a stay-at-home mom who was always there for her children.
Wilma was active in Plainville Congregational Church and especially enjoyed volunteering at the church Thrift Store. She was also very active in rock & mineral collecting and trading and was a member of the Bristol and Meriden Rock & Mineral Clubs. She enjoyed traveling and camping with her family and husband, antique shopping, ice hockey (especially those Bruins), crime novels and TV shows. She also loved her pets, especially her cat Molly who has been her companion for the past 11 years.
Our family wishes to warmly thank the friends and family that supported Wilma throughout her life and in her later years, especially Charles Brewer and his family who treated Wilma like his own mom. Mom was loved and will be greatly missed, especially by her children. She is survived by her children, Lisa Butteri and husband, Mike; Rick Pershken, wife Jean (deceased), their children, James and girlfriend Mara, Julia and boyfriend Alex, and fiancée Lisa; Terri Marshall and husband Bill, their son Travis and fiancée Britany; her sister Virginia Tracey and husband Ed (deceased), nieces, nephews and cousins.
A celebration of Wilma’s life will be at 11 a.m. on Dec 17, at Plainville Congregational Church with a reception after. A private burial will be held in the spring. Arrangements are by O’Brien Funeral Service, 24 Lincoln Avenue, Bristol. In lieu of flowers, those wishing to make donations in Wilma’s memory may do so to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, The American Diabetes Association, The Book of Remembrance at the Plainville Congregational Church or the American Cancer Society.
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