Recent Death Notices From Brookfield: Lembo, Van Hise, McGarrah

Condolences are extended to the families and friends of those who have recently died.

By Hayleigh Evans, Patch Staff

Oct 12, 2026 2:21 PM EDT

BROOKFIELD, CT — Recent death notices from Brookfield.

Pamela Jean (Cipolla) Lembo, 83, died Sept. 27, 2026, and was a lifelong Brookfield resident and self-taught artist who painted reproduction antique porcelain dolls for Seeley's and traveled internationally to teach doll making. She is survived by her husband of 62 years, Michael Lembo.

Victoria "Vickie" A. (Postorino) Mizell, 79, died Sept. 27, 2026, and was a Brooklyn native and Brookfield resident who was predeceased by her husband, Henry "Jerry" Mizell, and is survived by her three children, Meredith Schiller, Melissa Mizell and Michael Mizell.

Maureen Gail Van Hise, 86, died Sept. 24, 2026, and was a longtime Brookfield resident and top-producing real estate agent for more than three decades who served on several town boards and commissions and volunteered at Danbury Hospital for more than 20 years.

Patricia A. Higgins, 91, died Sept. 21, 2026, in New Milford and was a longtime educator who earned a master's degree in education from Brooklyn College and spent many years teaching fifth grade. She also enjoyed playing piano, gardening and spending time with her pets.

Diana Bishop, 91, died Sept. 12, 2026, and was a Brookfield resident and Mason City, Iowa, native who was predeceased by her husband, Edward "Mac" Bishop, and is survived by her three children, Katherine Bishop, Elizabeth Driver and Helen Dyer.

Robert G. McGarrah, 88, died Sept. 10, 2026, and was a U.S. Navy veteran and longtime PepsiCo employee whose innovative vending machine designs earned dozens of patents, including work on a can designed to dispense Pepsi aboard the original space shuttles. He is survived by his wife of nearly 62 years, Ann.

Robert M. Grossman, 86, died Sept. 8, 2026, and was a New York City native and Brookfield resident who is survived by his wife of 53 years, Antonia (Galasso) Grossman, along with extended family and friends.

Abby Gulias, 93, died Sept. 1, 2026, and was a lifelong New Yorker before moving to Brookfield who spent more than 35 years working as a secretary for publishing companies in New York City.