William Chegwidden

CHEGWIDDEN, William H. William H. Chegwidden, 79, of West Haven, for 56 years the loving husband of Margaret Grillo Chegwidden, beloved father, grandfather and brother, died Sunday, November 6, 2011, at Connecticut Hospice. A son deeply devoted to his parents, the late William H. and Florence Gamester Chegwidden, William was born in New Haven June 5, 1932. A U.S. Navy war veteran, he served honorably aboard the Destroyer USS Kippler during the Korean Conflict. Prior to retirement, he worked for the Southern New England Telephone Co. for many years. He was a member of the Elks, the Telephone Pioneers, and the American Legion. He deeply enjoyed time with his family and friends, and so many of his fondest memories were of Key West. He was his happiest when, in January, he made the two or three day drive to his "little conch shack" built on the former Navy base property. It was there he relaxed in the sun while his friends weathered the New England winter. And it was there, on the old Navy base, as a former Navy man, he would often recall again the days when he was a sailor and was fond of saying "Sailors don't care." Besides his devoted wife Margaret, Bill is survived by his sons who have been everything to him throughout his life, William Chegwidden and his wife Francoise, of Le Mans, France, and Attorney Bryan C. Chegwidden of New York, NY; a cherished granddaughter, Mary H. Chegwidden, of whom he was very proud, and his sister Florence Jordan. Bill and Margaret had a big extended "family", with so many of the same good friends for over 60 years. He always looked forward to those who would visit, like Cousin John, who was the little brother he never had, and Cousin Irene whose phone calls he always enjoyed. The funeral will be from the Keenan Funeral Home, 238 Elm Street, West Haven, Wednesday morning at 9:15 followed by a Mass of Christian Burial at St. Lawrence Church, Main Street, West Haven at 10:00. Following the funeral Mass, military honors will be accorded outside the church. Entombment in St. Lawrence Cemetery will be private. Friends may call at the funeral home Tuesday, from 4:00 to 6:00 PM. In lieu of flowers, gifts in his memory may be made to Connecticut Hospice, 100 Double Beach Road, Branford, CT 06405. Condolences may be offered online at www.keenanfuneralhome.com