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STAMFORD, Conn. Anne Lessard Searles, 80, died Oct. 14. Searles, who was active in the field of historic preservation, was born May 5, 1931, in Stamford.
She graduated from Sacred Heart Academy in Stamford and Merrill Business School before going on to work as an executive assistant at Bedloch Popper, Inc. and later at the Lockwood-Mathews Mansion Museum. Searles served on the boards of the Lockwood Mathews Mansion Museum and the Friends of the Norwalk Museums and as a member of the Norwalk Preservation Trust, the Wilton Historical Society and Lifetime Learners.
In her free time, Searles enjoyed visiting museums in New York City, listening to music, reading and being with her grandchildren.
Searles is survived by two daughters, Janet Benedict and her husband, Stephen, and Amy Curley and her husband, William; a son, Robert Searles and his wife, Dena; her sister, Janet Memoli and her husband, Tony; five grandchildren and one great-grandchild. She was predeceased by her husband, Robert Searles.
Calling hours will be Tuesday, Oct. 18, from 4 to 7 p.m. at Hoyt-Cognetta Funeral Home in Norwalk. A Mass will be celebrated at St. Thomas the Apostle Roman Catholic Church at 10 a.m. on Wednesday, Oct. 19. Interment will follow at Riverside Cemetery in Norwalk.
In lieu of flowers, the family asks that donations in Searles memory be made to the Friends of the Norwalk Museums, Inc., PO Box 2085, Norwalk CT 06852.
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