Obituary: Deborah Rachael White Little, 62, of Southbury

Deborah Little, 62, of Southbury, died after an extended campaign with leukemia, Saturday morning, Dec. 3, 2011, at the Smilow Cancer Hospital in New Haven, surrounded by her husband of 39 years and her two sons.

Little was born in Derby on May 14, 1949. She was the daughter of the late Clayton and Rose (Consolazio) White of Southbury.

She attended Southbury public grammar schools and graduated from St. Margaret’s School, now Chase Collegiate, in Waterbury, in 1967.

Little graduated from Syracuse University in 1971 with a bachelor’s degree in Social Work, from Western Connecticut State University with a master’s degree in elementary education, and then went on for a further year of study.

She taught first and second grade in Region 15 -- Middlebury and Southbury -- for 34 years and still remembered the name of every student she ever taught during her career.

Little was always generous to all and especially her friends. She liked nothing better than to try out a new recipe on an appreciative crowd and she did so often.

She was eventually given, by her husband, the nickname "The Food Boss," to which she never objected and which secretly amused her.

Her most favorite place in the world was the Middlebury Swimming Club located on Lake Quassapaug where she was called, by some, "The Queen of the Dock," because she could always be counted on occupy her usual spot on the dock, making sure she accumulated her share of sunshine.

Little abundantly enjoyed getting together with her Italian cousins from Southbury and New York.

Her good humor and kindness, coupled with her natural generosity, were perhaps some of the secrets of her success as a teacher and a friend.

Little is survived by her husband Douglas and her two sons, Edward, the elder, and Radley, the younger. She was predeceased by a daughter, Phoebe.

Services: A wake for family and friends will take place from 7 to 9 p.m. Thursday, Dec. 8, at the Southbury Funeral Home of Munson-Lovetere, 235 Main St. North.

Burial: Private. 

Flowers: The family requests that those who sending flowers only send yellow sunflowers.

Memorials: In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the Southbury Public Library, 100 Poverty Road, Southbury, CT 06488.