Evelyn W. Vaill

WINSTED — Evelyn W. Vaill, 98, of Coe Street died June 7, 2010, peacefully at her home. She was the widow of Theodore Vaill.

The daughter of the late Mary Ann (Vickers) and Wilfred Alexander Weatherhead, she was born on Aug. 22, 1911, near the town of Fernie in eastern British Columbia. Mrs. Vaill was the eldest of five siblings. The Weatherhead family lived in Canyon, B.C., before moving to Nelson, B.C., in 1925, where she graduated from high school.

Mrs. Vaill graduated from the nursing school of Vancouver General Hospital, class of 1936. Shortly after graduation she sought employment at Litchfield County Hospital in Winsted, where she met her husband, Theodore Vaill. Mr. Vaill, who was editor and publisher of the Winsted Evening Citizen, predeceased her on Oct. 14, 1976.

Mrs. Vaill was employed as a registered nurse at the hospital for many years. She was an active member of the Winsted Nurses Club and served as its president for several terms. In the 1940s and ’50s the Nurses Club sponsored numerous bake sales as fundraisers to benefit the hospital. Mrs. Vaill’s homemade bread and cloverleaf rolls were always big sellers. Additional nursing duties involved Mrs. Vaill’s role as volunteer nurse for many years for the American Red Cross assisting in the local blood mobile drives.

Among her interests were handiwork, sewing, knitting and crewel. She excelled with her crewel creations. Other interests were traveling on cruises and railroad trips with her husband. Many trips on the trans-Canada trains brought them back to her homeland of British Columbia.

Her survivors include a daughter, Judith V. Manchester and her husband, George, of Westport, a son, Stephen G. Vaill and his wife, Sandra, of Winsted; a stepson, Theodore Vaill Jr. and his wife, Ruth, of Colebrook; a brother, Glenn Weatherhead and his wife, Grace, of Nakusp, B.C.; three grandchildren, Glenn S. Vaill of Winsted, Kimberly M. Shaw of Wilton, N.Y., and Jeffrey V. Manchester of Fairfield; two step-grandchildren, Mary Susan Vaill of Torrington and Kathleen Vaill of Norfolk; seven great-grandchildren; one step-great-grandchild; and a number of nieces and nephews.

She was predeceased by a grandson, Dudley L. Vaill, in 1984; a stepgranddaughter, Elizabeth Vaill, in 1963; and three sisters, Bernice Patrick, Muriel Weatherhead and Reta Stacey, all from British Columbia.

A memorial service was held June 12 at the Church of Christ, Winsted, with the Rev. Douglas Aldrich officiating. Burial will be held at the convenience of the family.

Memorial contributions may be made to the Church of Christ or the Foothills Visiting Nurse and Home Care, Inc., 32 Union Street, Winsted, CT 06098.  To leave an online condolence, visit maloneyfuneral.com.