Barbara B. Gaudette

Barbara Benson Gaudette, 83, of Berlin, passed away unexpectedly at home on Saturday, January 1, 2011. She was the widow of Arthur G. Gaudette. Born in New Britain, she was the daughter of the late Ernest V. and Mabel Jackson Benson. Barbara has been a long time Berlin resident coming from New Britain in 1960. She taught at the Burritt School in New Britain in the 1950's, at Willard School in Berlin during the 1960's, throughout the 1970's as a substitute teacher and later taught children with learning disabilities, retiring in 1980. She enjoyed lunches with a club of retired teachers from Willard School. Barbara loved reading and was a frequent visitor to the Berlin Free Library. She was an avid follower of the British Royal Family, in particular, the royal weddings. Barbara enjoyed watching the Boston Red Sox and UCONN Basketball. She enjoyed watching and feeding the birds at her bird feeder. Barbara loved to travel with her husband and loved to bake bread, pies and cakes. She was a member of Berlin Congregational Church in Berlin. Surviving are her son Thomas Gaudette of Kensington and many nieces and nephews whom she loved, especially her nieces Jane Kramer, Nancy Fichtler and Frances Dittman. Funeral services will be held on Wednesday at 11:00 am at Erickson-Hansen Funeral Home, 411 So. Main St., New Britain. Burial will be in Maple Cemetery, Berlin. Calling hours will be Wednesday morning from 9:00 am to 11:00 am at the funeral home. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to the Berlin Free Library, 842 Worthington Ridge, Berlin, CT 06037.