Obituary of Victoria E. Elliott

Victoria E. Elliott, 88, formerly of Wilkinson Street in Putnam, passed away very quietly and peacefully on Sunday, June 17th at Day Kimball Hospital in Putnam. During the past eight years she called Regency Heights of Danielson her home. Victoria was born in Putnam on March 1st, 1924, the daughter of the late Nicholas and Flora (Ginalis) Leaska and was educated in the Putnam school system. Victoria worked at the old Wellington Curtain Factory prior to her marriage to Raymond Elliott in November of 1950. After marrying Ray, she left the work force and focused on raising her children and in assisting with the care of her mother and father. As time progressed and family responsibilities changed she returned to the workforce working in the cafeterias of the Putnam School system. Her job in the cafeteria gave her great satisfaction and pleasure as she loved to cook and she was able to have continuous interaction with the students in all of the schools. She retired from the cafeteria in 1987 but she remained very active. Her love of cooking and her desire to serve led her to volunteer in the community kitchen of northeast Connecticut. She was a weekly volunteer in the kitchen doing whatever was needed to serve the day's meal. As time went on, she and a small cohort of her friends would plan, prepare, and serve the entire meal on a monthly basis. She always enjoyed taking on more responsibility, but she was always reticent to assume the credit for her accomplishments. Even though baptized Greek Orthodox, Victoria was a lifelong member of the Congregational Church of Putnam and it was the church that was such a big part of her life. Whether it was serving on a committee, organizing the annual church fair, taking part in fellowship or preparing for a church dinner Victoria was always one of the first to arrive and one of the last to leave. The church was also instrumental in cultivating her love of music as she was a member of both the junior and senior choirs during her tenure within the church. Inretrospect, Victoria was much like a matriarch to her family and to her friends, but not necessarily in the traditional sense. She was the central figure that others revolved around, yet she was the one with great humility. She was a source of strength for nearly everyone, and even with her limitations and disabilities following her stroke she was still able to impart a certain level of comfort and relief to those that visited. It is quite the understatement to say that she will be missed by all who knew her. She leaves her son and daughter-in-law, Bruce and Kathy Hill-Elliott of Putnam, her daughter and son-in-law Nancy and Jon Mitchell of Hebron, and her grandchildren Elliott and Zoe Mitchell. She was predeceased by her husband of 57 years, Raymond in 2008. She was also predeceased by her sister Ora Pelkey, and her two brothers Mitchell and George Leaska. A memorial service will be held at the Congregational Church of Putnam on Sunday, July 1st, at 2:00 PM. Burial at the West Thompson Cemetery will be private preceding the service. In lieu of flowers donations may be made to the Congregational Church of Putnam. The Smith & Walker Funeral Home, Putnam, CT is in charge of the arrangements. To share a memory with his family "Light A Candle" at www.smithandwalkerfh.com