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Iris Nellie Gough Schoen Wills, 88, Chester

Iris Nellie Gough Schoen Wills, 88, of Chester, died peacefully on Jan. 17 at the Connecticut Hospice in Branford.  Iris was the beloved wife of the late James L. Wills.  She was born on May 20, 1924 in Haydon Wick, Swindon, England, daughter of Arthur Herbert and Nellie Gough. She was most proud of her family and her English heritage, and she wrote a book as a legacy for her family.  Her book, I Remember Haydon Wick, told stories of her life growing up in the little village of Hayden Wick, until, at the age of 21 years old, she boarded the ship S.S. Uruguay on March 28, 1946, in Southampton, England, to travel to the United States to join the American soldier she had married. 

Iris and her new husband settled in Clinton where they raised their two children.  Iris taught Sunday school at the First Church of Christ Congregational in Clinton during the 1950s.  She also loved gardening and flowers, especially the wildflowers that grew plentifully in the open fields of her hometown. 

Iris was an avid hummingbird watcher. She looked forward to their arrival every spring and spent many happy hours looking out her windows and enjoying their many antics.  She also loved to knit and especially liked to teach others to knit and crochet.

She is survived by her daughter Gloria Schoen McQueeney and her husband Thomas of Westbrook; her brother Raymond Gough and his wife Jean of Swindon, England; and three grandchildren, John Robert Schoen of California, Jacqueline Re Cacace and her husband Lorenzo of Chester, and Sean Morrisey of Middletown.  She is also survived by four great-grandchildren, Jarrett Cacace of California, Alexina Hebert, Sabrina Cacace, and Nicolo Cacace, all of Chester.  In addition, she is survived by her dear friend Kay Fletcher of Chester, a fellow Brit, and several nieces and nephews, both in the United States and England.  She was predeceased by her son, John Arthur Schoen; her sister Margaret Gladys; and four brothers, Arthur Lesley, Cyril William, Harold Nelson, and Douglas James. 

A memorial service is planned for early spring in her hometown of Swindon, England.  Burial will be private. The Swan Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.