Obituary: Carole A. Shaff, 74, of Branford

Obituary courtesy of W. S. Clancy Memorial Funeral Home:

Carole A. Shaff of Branford died suddenly Sunday March 14, 2021 at Yale-New Haven Hospital. She was the wife of the late Gerald H. Shaff.

Carole was born in Fargo, ND April 20, 1946, a daughter of the late John and Elizabeth Stewart Pehkonen. She graduated Summa Cum Laude from Albertus Magnus College and received her master’s degree from SCSU. She was an LMFT for the New Hope Center in Guilford until retiring.

As a teenager, she was crowned the Miss Wisconsin Spectacle Queen of Music. She loved music and enjoyed playing the piano and singing. Carole was also an avid reader and shared her love of books with friends and family.

Carole is survived by her children, Richard (Cheryl) Hansen of NY, Lawrence (Sonia) Hansen of FL, Gabrielle Consolino (fiancé Doug Stepenosky) of PA and Nicole Sturgess (the late Paul Sturgess) of Branford, and her stepchildren, Nancy (John) Burke of WI, Ronnie (Jeffrey) Quella of WI, Martin (Sandra) Shaff of FL, Susan Puckhaber of IL, Jennifer (David) Jepsen of Manchester, 19 grandchildren and 4 great-grandchildren, her sisters, Johanne Arla Block, Elizabeth Ann Schoessow, Karen Ann (Richard) Timian, and Mara (Philip) Pehkonen, and her brother Eric (Kori) Pehkonen. She was predeceased by brothers, John, Karl, and William Pehkonen.

Relatives and friends are invited to visiting hours Thursday evening from 5:00 – 7:00 at the W. S. Clancy Memorial Funeral Home, 244 North Main Street, Branford, and are invited to a funeral service Friday morning at 10:00 in the funeral home. Burial will follow in Branford Center Cemetery.

In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be sent to the Smilow Cancer Hospital, 20 York St., New Haven, CT 06510.