Josephine S. Villere

FUNERAL HOME

Spear-Miller Funeral Home

39 South Benson Road

Fairfield, Connecticut

Josephine Villere Obituary

VILLERE Josephine S. Villere, age 99 of Southport, passed away Tuesday, December 9, 2008 at St. Vincent's Medical Center. Born in New Orleans, La., the daughter of the late Anthony and Augusta Solari, she resided in New York City for many years prior to moving to Southport in 1987. Mrs. Villere debuted in her native New Orleans and, in 1929, was the Comos Queen of Mardi Gras. While living in New York City, she was an active member of St. Thomas Episcopal Church. Survivors include her daughter, Josephine M. Villere of Fairfield; a loving granddaughter, Marie G. Villere of Southport; a cherished great-granddaughter, Tara Villere of Southport; and a dear, special and devoted friend, Mary Beth Vidnasky of Stratford. A memorial service will be held Friday, January 9, 2009 at 11 a.m. in the Chapel of Trinity Episcopal Church, Southport. Entombment will be private in St. Thomas Episcopal Church in New York City. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to either, St. Thomas Episcopal Church, 1 West 53rd Street, New York, NY 10019 or to Trinity Episcopal Church, 651 Pequot Avenue, Southport, CT 06890. Arrangements are under the direction of the Spear-Miller Funeral Home, 39 South Benson Road, Fairfield. To offer an on-line condolence please visit us at www.SpearMillerFuneralHome.com.

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Published by Connecticut Post from Jan. 7 to Jan. 8, 2009.

Memories and Condolences
for Josephine Villere

4 Entries

Quentin Smith

January 11, 2009

Josephine Villere was a beautiful, cultured, poised and elegantly coiffed lady whose charming home in Southport, CT, reflected those same qualities: handomely decorated, gracious and inviting rooms that were full of world-class antiques. In fact, the glass-fronted dining room cabinet, a family piece displaying many rare porcelains, had dictated her choice of the Southport house because the ceilings were high enough to accommodate it.

I met the Villere family through Daphne Denison Armati, classmate of Mrs. Villere’s daughter, Josie, at the Gill School in Bernardsville, N.J. (I have been an“extra” member of her family for over 56 years.) It was a vicarious meeting one evening during supper in the newly-redone kitchen at the Denison farm in Harford County, MD. Daphne mentioned that Mrs. Villere had invited her to join Josie and herself on a European tour but had declined, feeling sure that her parents wouldn’t approve. Hearing that, Midge and Jack Denison rose from the table in unison, called Mrs. Villere and accepted the invitation for Daphne. We attended a Broadway musical and had a colorful Bon Voyage party in New York early the following summer to see off the traveling threesome. Mrs. Villere had to keep a firm hand on her two wards and was well accustomed to the duty.

I escorted Mrs. Villere to the Virginia wedding of Daphne’s son, John; Meeting her at the Hay-Adams Hotel in Washington, D.C. (where our President-Elect is staying today), I accompanied her through the dignified ceremony and the somewhat raucous reception, her poise never once faltering. Mrs. Villere’s boundless loyalty and support of her family was a fine example of her strong and loving nature, and I respect and honor her memory.

Quentin Smith, Arlington, VA.

Daphne Denison Armati

January 10, 2009

I have known Josephine Villere since 1952 when I and her daughter, Josie, attended boarding school together as classmates and room-mates. Mrs. Villere took me under her wing and invited me to join her and Josie on weekends away from school. She introduced me to Broadway theater; she helped me obtain my first job in N.Y. after I moved there. She was a second family to me, even inviting me to go to Europe with Josie and herself. She was a very dear friend who had a big heart, a wicked sense of humor and a temper to match - I know because I was a victim of it more than once. But I loved her dearly; she was a great "southern" lady with class and style. I only wish that she had met her wish - to live until 100 !
Rest in peace, dear friend!!

Daphne Denison Armati

Robin Greenhalgh

January 8, 2009

I remember fondly visiting Josephine with my family in NYC - at The Carlyle one evening, my father invited Helen Hayes over to Josephine's and we met George Carlin in the elevator - Mr. Carlin had to decline the invitation to meet the "first lady" of theater and Mrs. V due to a prior engagement - can you imagine - Josephine, Helen Hayes and George Carlin??!! Josephine was so elegant - her visits to Fairfield with Marie (many years ago) were always fun. While she "dressed" (so beautifully) every day, she kept right up with our calamity - dogs birthing puppies, horses running at the track, Mom buying the latest clothing line for the shop (dress salesmen coming to her) out on the lawn where she could sunbathe at the same time, phones ringing like mad and inevitably some shop customers arriving unannounced to catch Mom in her 2-pc bathing suit in the midst of all the above.... Josephine never let on that this was anything but normal! Our visits to her in NY or CT brought us just a touch closer to "civilization". I will miss Josephine very much and hope that she, Welby, my parents and a few others are having a grand time re-hashing old times!

The Staff of Spear-Miller Funeral Home

January 8, 2009

Offering our deepest condolences during this time.

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