Obituary: Jacqueline Chase Cassidy, 86, of Southbury

Jacqueline “Jacquie” Chase Cassidy died peacefully at her home in Southbury on Thursday evening, May 3, 2012. She was the beloved wife of John Hughes Cassidy Jr.

Together they provided a loving and nurturing household for their children and grandchildren throughout their 61 years of marriage. Cassidy was born on August 5, 1925 in Berkeley, Calif., daughter of the late Coranna Bernais Chase and Edmund Rowland Chase, sister of Patricia Harbage of Severna Park, M.D., and Frederick S. Chase II of Hollywood, Fla.

Raised in Middlebury, she graduated from Saint Margaret’s School, currently The Chase Collegiate School in Waterbury, named in honor of the Chase family. 

Cassidy attended Smith College, then elected to support war efforts by working at Chase Brass & Copper. Later she pursued journalism in New York and Waterbury.

After a 10 year courtship, John and Jacquie were married and settled in Watertown to raise their family. Her passion for knitting paired with her entrepreneurial spirit, led to her many years at the Yarn Box in Watertown.

Cassidy was an avid bridge player, enjoying many afternoons with friends. She especially loved tending to her flower and vegetable gardens and daily beach walks as a longtime summer resident of Block Island, R.I. She was a devoted wife, mother, and grandmother. Her greatest joy came from bringing together and caring for her loving family and grandchildren, who will all cherish her memory.

She will be deeply missed by her six children: son John H. Cassidy III and his wife Mary of Tuckahoe, N.Y.; son Michael Cassidy and companion Alice Stratton of Middlebury; daughter Dianne Cassidy and her husband Bruce Crocker of Wellesley, Mass.; daughter Coranna “Wendy” Brokaw and her husband Edward S. Brokaw of Darien; daughter Laura Koehler and her husband Timothy Koehler of Westborough, Mass.; daughter Martha Shilstone and her husband Jonathan Shilstone of Ridgefield; as well as her 16 beloved grandchildren.

Memorial Service: At a future date and location at the convenience of the family.

Arrangements: .

In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations in her memory be made to the Block Island Medical Center, P.O. Box 919, Block Island, Rhode Island 02807 or the VNA HOPETEAM, 50 Brookside Drive, Waterbury, Connecticut 06708.