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Ellen Blance, 93

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Ellen Blance, beloved wife, mother, and grandmother, passed away on Saturday, April 12, 2025 at the age of 93. Ellen was the embodiment of positivity, and the center of her close-knit family. She was born on June 26, 1931 in Whitburn, a small coastal village in the Northeast of England. Like others of her generation in World War II England, as a young child she was evacuated to a family faraway in the countryside – an experience that helped shape her resilient and indomitable spirit. A passionate teacher, Ellen and Ian, her husband and soulmate of 73 years, and young sons Andrew and Carl, left London in the 1970s for New York City.

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Michael J. McDonagh, 81

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July 15th, 1943 – April 5th, 2025

With profound sadness and unwavering faith, we announce the passing to heaven of Michael Joseph McDonagh, 39-year New Canaan Resident, on Saturday April 5th, 2025, with his wife of 56 years, Jeanne, by his side. His legacy will live on through his loving family; his wife Jeanne, his son; Sean Michael McDonagh (Laura) of Pittsford, NY, his three daughters; Michelle McDonagh Baxter (David) of Princeton, NJ, Christine McDonagh Conroy of Pelham, NY, and Katie McDonagh Small (Jonathan) of New Canaan, CT, and his nine adoring grandchildren, who he lovingly referred to as the littlest pickles; William, Brook, May, Bernadette ”Bea”, Ava, Michael, Jack, Blake, and Duke. Michael was born on July 15th, 1943, in the Riverdale section of the Bronx to proud parents Anne and Michael J McDonagh from county Mayo, Ireland. Michael was their fourth child of five and their first son, and grew up alongside his three older sisters, Mary, Anne, and Bernadette, and his younger brother, William “Billy”.  As a young man, Michael worked in his father’s Irish pub on the Upper East Side of Manhattan, learning the value of hard work, honing his people skills and discovering his love of community. He graduated from Cardinal Farley Military Academy in 1962.

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Joan Turner Brode, 88

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It is with heavy hearts that we announce the passing of Joan Turner Brode, beloved mother, grandmother, and friend, who passed away at the age of 88 on February 25, 2025. Joan was born on September 1, 1936, in Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania, to Elizabeth and John Turner. She was a force to be reckoned with from an early age and graduated from the University of Pennsylvania with a degree in Nursing. Settling in Philadelphia and working as a Pediatric Nurse, it was there that she met and married the one and only love of her life, Edward Brode and together they raised a wonderful family in Orchard Park, NY and Summit, NJ before settling in New Canaan, CT for the last 30 years. After losing her husband to cancer in 1995, Joan set out to live her life to the fullest.

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Ronald J. Ulrich, 80

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Ronald J. Ulrich passed away on February 8, 2025, in New Canaan, CT, surrounded by his family. He was 80 years old. Ron was a 52-year resident of New Canaan. He and his wife, Christie, were married at St. Mark’s Episcopal Church in 1971 before moving to the town in 1973 and raising three children.

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Gary Stevens, 84

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Gary Stevens (Gulfstream, FL and New Canaan, CT), a pioneering force in the radio industry, passed away on February 17, 2025, in Delray Beach, Florida, at the age of 84. Born on April 5, 1940, in Buffalo, New York, Gary’s passion for broadcasting began early. He launched his on-air career in 1959 at WWOW in Conneaut, Ohio, while on break from college. His early years in radio took him to WCKR and WAME—known as “Whammy in Miami” as well as WFUN while he was a student at the University of Miami. In 1961, he moved to WIL in St.