Two-year-old Cary Pratt discovers the wonder of music as Eliot Bailen, founder of the Sherman Chamber Ensemble, plays “Ferdinand the Bull” during Music in the Nave at St. Andrew’s Church in Kent.
KENT — St. Andrew’s Church was filled Sunday, Feb. 11, with children and their families eager for the first children’s concert offered by the Music in the Nave series.
The program featured a reading by Emmy Award-winning actress Margot Martindale of “The Story of Babar, the Little Elephant.”
Pianist Margarita Nuller accompanied the reading on the Steinway grand piano the church was able to purchase in 2011. The piece was composed in 1940 by French composer Francis Jean Poulenc (1899-1963) for the amusement of his young nieces and nephews.
“Babar” was the third act in the program, which began with a performance of “Ferdinand the Bull,” composed and played by cellist Eliot Bailen, founder of the Sherman Chamber Ensemble. Bailen was introduced whimsically as “the only composer on today’s program who is not French and not dead.” His daughter, Julia Bailen, was narrator.
“Ferdinand” was followed by a lilting rendition by Nuller and Bailen of Saint-Saens’ “The Swan” from “Carnival of the Animals.”
It was not long into the program before the children’s natural curiosity broke through parental restraints. A few of the youngest attendees migrated up the aisle at the side of the church, peeking with interest around the front pews to watch Bailen at his craft. Two-year-old Cary Pratt advanced toward the cellist, eagerly pointing him out to his mother.
In the aisle, a young girl dipped and twirled to the melody of “The Swan” while Jessica Oncel, sitting on the floor, shared a contemplative moment with her young son, Leonardo, who was on her lap.
According to Matthew Harris, head of the Music Commission for the church, the Music in the Nave series is being expanded to include different genres of music, ranging from the annual Christmas “Messiah” Sing-in to chamber music, “old, classic rockers” and folk music.
This last genre will be the focus of the next performance Saturday, April 6, when Kent’s own, George Potts, who has made music throughout Northwestern Connecticut for many years, will be the guest artist. In 2022, Potts released his first solo CD, “Ends and Odds,” which got as high as No. 17 on the FAI Folk Music charts. His instrumentals have twice won the Best Instrumental Award at the New England Songwriting Competition.
The final concert of the series will revisit the concept of “Mozart in May” and will feature the Manhattan String Quartet.
SALISBURY — Amanda Cannon, age 100, passed away Oct. 15, 2025, at Noble Horizons. She was the wife of the late Jeremiah Cannon.
Amanda was born Aug. 20, 1925, in Brooklyn, New York the daughter of the late Karl and Ella Husslein.
She was widowed at the age of 31 and worked as a bookkeeper for the Standard Oil Company and other oil companies in New York City until she retired at age 72.
Amanda moved to Noble Horizons in 2013 to live near her daughter Diane and son-in-law (the late) Raymond Zelazny.
She enjoyed her time in the Northwest Corner and was an avid nature lover, albeit considered herself a native New Yorker as she was born and resided in NYC for 88 years.
She was a faithful parishioner of St. Mary’s Church in Lakeville and attended Mass regularly until the age of 99.
Amanda was the grandmother of (the late) Jesse Morse and is survived by her daughter, Diane Zelazny, her grandsons, Adam Morse, Raymond Morse and his wife Daron and their daughter and her great granddaughter Cecelia Morse.
A Mass of Christian Burial will take place on Thursday, Oct. 23, 11 a.m. at St Mary’s Church in Lakeville, Connecticut.
Memorial donations may be made to St. Mary’s Church.
The Kenny Funeral Home has care of arrangements.
LAKEVILLE — Barbara Meyers DelPrete, 84, passed away Tuesday, Sept. 30, 2025, at her home. She was the beloved wife of George R. DelPrete for 62 years.
Mrs. DelPrete was born in Burlington, Iowa, on May 31, 1941, daughter of the late George and Judy Meyers. She lived in California for a time and had been a Lakeville resident for the past 55 years.
Survivors, in addition to her husband, George, include son, George R. DelPrete II, daughter, Jena DelPrete Allee, and son Stephen P. DelPrete. Grandchildren; Trey, Cassidy, and Meredith DelPrete, Jack, Will and Finn Allee, and Ali and Nicholas DelPrete.
A Funeral Mass was held at St. Mary’s Church, Lakeville, on Saturday, Oct. 4. May she Rest in Peace.
Ryan Funeral Home, 255 Main St., Lakeville, is in care of arrangements.
To offer an online condolence, please visit ryanfhct.com
SHARON — Shirley Anne Wilbur Perotti, daughter of George and Mabel (Johnson) Wilbur, the first girl born into the Wilbur family in 65 years, passed away on Oct. 5, 2025, at Noble Horizons.
Shirley was born on Aug. 19, 1948 at Sharon Hospital.
She was raised on her parents’ poultry farm (Odge’s Eggs, Inc.).
After graduating from Housatonic Valley Regional High School, she worked at Litchfield County National Bank and Colonial Bank.
She married the love of her life, John, on Aug. 16, 1969, and they lived on Sharon Mountain for more than 50 years.
Shirley enjoyed creating the annual family Christmas card, which was a coveted keepsake.She also enjoyed having lunch once a month with her best friends, Betty Kowalski, Kathy Ducillo, and Paula Weir.
In addition to John, she is survived by her three children and their families; Sarah Medeiros, her husband, Geoff, and their sons, Nick and Andrew, of Longmeadow, Massachusetts, Shelby Diorio, her husband, Mike, and their daughters, Addie, Lainey and Lyla, of East Canaan, Connecticut,Jeffrey Perotti, his wife, Melissa, and their daughters, Annie, Lucy and Winnie, of East Canaan. Shirley also leaves her two brothers, Edward Wilbur and his wife Joan, and David Wilbur; two nieces, three nephews, and several cousins.
At Shirley’s request, services will be private.
Donations in her memory may be made to the Sharon Woman’s Club Scholarship Fund, PO Box 283, Sharon, CT 06069.
The Kenny Funeral Home has care of arrangements.
MILLERTON — Veronica Lee “Ronnie” Silvernale, 78, a lifelong area resident died Tuesday, Oct. 7, 2025, at Sharon Hospital in Sharon, Connecticut. Mrs. Silvernale had a long career at Noble Horizons in Salisbury, where she served as a respected team leader in housekeeping and laundry services for over eighteen years. She retired in 2012.
Born Oct. 19, 1946, at Camp Lejeune, North Carolina, she was the daughter of the late Bradley C. and Sophie (Debrew) Hosier, Sr. Following her graduation from high school and attending college, she married Jack Gerard Silvernale on June 15, 1983 in Millerton, New York. Their marriage lasted thirty-five years until Jack’s passing on July 28, 2018.
Ronnie is survived by her daughter, Jaime Silvernale (Wm. MacDaniel, Sr.) of Millerton, her beloved grandson, Wm. MacDaniel, Jr.; two special nieces, Shannon and Rebecca and a special nephew Sean Hosier. In addition to her parents and husband, she was predeceased by her brother, Bradley C. Hosier, Jr. and her dear friend Ruth Fullerton of Millerton.
Visitation was private. A celebration of Ronnie’s life will be held in the future. Arrangements have been entrusted to the Scott D. Conklin Funeral Home, 37 Park Avenue, Millerton, NY 12546. To send an online condolence to the family or to plant a tree in Ronnie’s memory, please visit www.conklinfuneralhome.com
