Oscar Bertil Hallstrom

Oscar Bertil Bert Hallstrom, 95, of Cromwell, died on December 5, 2009 at Pilgrim Manor in Cromwell. He was the husband for 52 years of Ruth Josephson Hallstrom who died in 2007. Born in Bridgeport, CT, he was the son of the late Oscar and Ada Anderson Hallstrom. Bert grew up in Stratford, CT, attended local schools, and at the age of 16 started his own auto repair business. Bert's Auto Repair operated for close to 50 years in Stratford. Bert was a member of the Covenant Congregational Church of Bridgeport now the Covenant Church of Easton and Black Rock Congregational Church in Fairfield. At both churches, he was a volunteer with the youth groups, served on the trustee boards, the board of the Children's Home of Cromwell, and the board of the East Coast Conference. Bert lived his faith every day. Surviving are two daughters and their spouses, Lynne and Peter Hoden of Swanzey, NH, Joan and Raud Johnson of New Canaan, CT; his sister Alice Hallstrom of Trumbull, CT; four grandchildren, Jonathan Hoden and his wife Dawn, Kirsten Arney and her husband Kyle, Sonja Gifford and her husband Charles, and Joshua Morin; three great grandchildren, Carl Peter Hoden, Julia Anne Hoden, and Felicia Ruth Arney; and many nieces and nephews. He was predeceased by his sister, Ruth Johnson, and two brothers, George and Milton Hallstrom. A memorial service will be held on Thursday, Dec. 17 at 3:00 PM at Bethany Covenant Church, 785 Mill St., Berlin. Burial will be private at the Hilltop Covenant Church Memorial Garden in Cromwell. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to the Benevolent Care Fund of CVOC, 52 Missionary Road, Cromwell, CT 06416 or Pilgrim Pines, 220 West Shore Road, Swanzey, NH 03446. Erickson-Hansen Funeral Home is assisting the family with arrangements.