Britta Karen (Schneider) Kivell, 65, of Milford, CT passed away too so

Britta Karen (Schneider) Kivell, 65, of Milford, CT passed away too soon, on February 12, 2023, after a courageous, four-year battle with cancer.

She was born in Berlin, Germany, on December 19, 1957 to Walter and Brigitte (Fenske) Schneider. A year later, the family immigrated to America, settling in Seattle and moving to Sierra Vista, Arizona a few years later. She later lived with her Aunt Dorothea “Dottie” and Uncle Frank Marchesseau, and grandmother Selma “Omi” Schatzschneider in Westbury, Long Island. She earned a BA cum laude from the State University of New York at Oswego, Class of 1979; and a JD from Pepperdine University Caruso School of Law in Malibu, California, Class of 1982. She then established a legal career that lasted more than thirty-five years. It included her own private practice, Connecticut law firms, publicly held corporations, and most recently thirteen years as in in-house counsel for Deloitte.

Britta is survived by Michael, her beloved husband of 32 years; her son, Sam and his wife, Jennifer and their son, Joey; her father Walter and her stepmother, Gila Schneider; her Aunt Dottie; her cousin, Lenny Schatzschneider, his wife Lina, and their daughter Jasmine; her cousin, Ralph Schatzschneider, his wife Tina, and their children Paul and Julianna; her cousin, Michael Schatzschneider, and his life partner Sigi; her uncle, Peter Fenske; her nieces Lisa Kivell and Amanda (Kivell) Lupoli and Amanda’s husband Matthew Lupoli and their son Benjamin; and her “granddog”, Penny; plus many other relatives and friends. She was predeceased by her mother; her Uncle Frank, and Uncle Helmut Schatzschneider; and her grandmother Ruth Fenske and grandmother Omi Schatzschneider. She was also predeceased by her dog, Napper, and cat, Toonces.

Britta’s greatest love and priority was her immediate family, especially her son Sam when he was very young. As a new mother, she started her own law practice partly to give her the flexibility to care for him. After her grandson Joey’s birth, she researched her family’s genealogy extensively, interviewing many relatives to leave a detailed history for Sam, Joey, and future generations to study and update. She was a voracious reader, especially of murder mysteries, and was fluent in German.

Britta was always a warm and gracious hostess at her many parties for relatives and friends. More than anything, Britta and Michael loved taking family and friends on their sailboat, Seahound, on Long Island Sound and its harbors, as well as by themselves.

Britta also took many trips to Europe; visiting family in Germany, backpacking with friends in the ‘70s, island-hopping with her cousins in Greece, being Mike’s guide on his first European tour, honeymooning in Portugal, and much more. She also traveled throughout the US and Caribbean.
She was devoted to helping the less fortunate. She volunteered for the Purple Pantry Boxes organization, helping them provide food to those in need. She was a member of the Connecticut and New York Bars. She was a former member of The Milford Network of Executive Women, The Junior Women’s Club, and Easton Little League Baseball. She will be greatly missed by her family, friends, colleagues, and all those whose lives she touched.

A celebration of life is scheduled for March 4, 2023, 2:30-5:30, at the Milford Elks Lodge, 124 New Haven Avenue, Milford, CT. In lieu of flowers please donate to PurplePantryBoxes.com and/or the Connecticut Humane Society (cthumane.org).