Denis Jean Anctil passed away peacefully on Wednesday, April 15, 2026. Denis lived in Prospect, CT with his cherished wife Marie who preceded him after fifty-four years of marriage.

He is survived by his three children, Jim, Tom, and Therese, his two daughters in law Shannon Wyman-Anctil and Salli Szczesiul, his son in law Donald Dostie, Tom’s partner Shannon Mazrek, and his grandchildren Frank, Callista, and Charlie. He is also survived by his sisters Louise Lamothe, Leona Halliwell, Lucy Zercher, their husbands Bob, Doug, and Lowell and his brother Brother Peter of the Weston Priory. He is preceded by his brother Rene and his wife Pat.

Denis was born in a farmhouse in Saint-Pamphile Quebec on February 26, 1939 to Jean Marie Anctil and Therese Anctil. In 1947 he moved with his family to Watertown, CT. Denis graduated from Kaynor Technical High School in 1958, served four years in the United States Air Force, and received a Bachelor of Engineering degree from the Northrop Institute of Technology. Upon graduation he was employed as an aeronautical engineer with Pratt and Whitney. One evening after work he stopped for dinner at Howard Johnson’s in Southington. There he saw a childhood acquaintance named Marie sitting at the counter and mustered the courage to speak to her. They spent the rest of her life together.

Throughout his early career Denis volunteered as a firefighter and paramedic for the Prospect Fire Department. After working for Pratt and Whitney, Denis continued his education and became the last industrial arts teacher at Long River Middle School in Prospect. With his enthusiasm for learning he expanded the shop’s woodworking equipment and added plastics and sheet metal tools to the curriculum. Throughout his life Denis helped Marie with the running of her antiques and furniture business in Southbury.

Denis was always willing to help a friend, family member, or stranger. He had a natural kindness that he shared with everyone who knew him. His encyclopedic memory for facts and engineer’s passion for understanding how things work was often the source of rich conversation. He will be missed.

Calling hours will be Saturday May 2, 2026 from 11:00 A.M. – 12:30 P.M. at Munson Lovetere Funeral Home, 235 Main St. North., Southbury. A prayer service will begin at 12:30 P.M.

To leave an online condolence for the family, please visit www.munsonloveterefuneralhome.com