Verna E. (Shafer) McCullough

Verna Elizabeth McCullough (Shafer), 83, of Eastford, CT died on Saturday, February 29, 2020. She was born on March 17, 1936 to the late Geneva M. (Burleigh) and Seigle H. Shafer in Westfield, MA. Verna attended Chester Grammar School and graduated from Chester High School in 1953. She was active in cheerleading, drama, and basketball – playing on the 1950 Southern Berkshire League Championship Team. Verna graduated from Springfield College in 1957 with a bachelor’s degree in elementary education. While attending Springfield, she met her husband, Don, and they were married on December 21, 1957 in Chester. Verna and Don moved to the University of Connecticut in 1960 where Don was employed with the Student Union Administration staff until his death in 1979.  Following in her mother’s teaching footsteps, Verna taught at elementary schools in West Hartford, CT, Colorado Springs, CO, and Chaplin, CT. After 13 years at Windham Christian Academy in Willimantic, she retired. Verna was an American Red Cross and American Cancer Society volunteer.  She was a member of the Chaplin Congregational Church since 1967, serving in various capacities – Sunday School Director, Church Committee, and Deaconess. Verna chaired the first Chaplin Historical Homes Tour. Her greatest joy was her family and holiday times spent together along with summer days on Otis Big Pond in the Berkshires of Massachusetts. Verna is survived by her three daughters, Janna and her husband Jim Deveny, Paige McCullough-Casciano, and Tara McCullough-Murphy; seven grandchildren, Ashley and her husband Zachary Deveny-Schmidt, Brandon Deveny, Jacob and Olivia Casciano, Kyla, Lexi, and Kaden McCullough-Murphy. Her family will receive friends and relatives on Friday, March 6, 2020 from 6:00 – 8:00pm at Potter Funeral Home 456 Jackson St. Willimantic, CT 06226. Her funeral service will be on Saturday, March 7, 2020 at 10:00am at Chaplin Congregational Church 43 Chaplin St. Chaplin, CT 06235. Burial will follow at Russ Cemetery 363 Tower Hill Rd, Chaplin, CT 06235. In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations to Chaplin Congregational Church, Chester Cornerstone Church, Chester, MA or Anajali Ministries in Scotland, CT. To sign an online memorial guestbook visit www.potterfuneralhome.com

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