Justine Tonry Sedergren

Justine Tonry Sedergren was born in March 22, 1923 in Quincy, MA and raised in the Boston suburbs while spending idyllic summers in Maine. She died peacefully on September 12 at the age of 96 at Pomperaug Woods in Southbury, CT, her home for five years.

Justine joined the U.S. Army Nurse Corps in early 1945 and was immediately sent to the Philippines on a three-week voyage zigzagging across the Pacific to avoid enemy submarines. She was caring for wounded soldiers at the General Hospital in Manila on V-J Day. She served on the U.S.S. Mercy hospital ship. Shortly after V-J day, she sailed to Jinsen, Korea to pick up liberated British officers who had been prisoners of war. Her medals include the Asiatic Pacific Campaign and Philippines Liberation, both with battle stars. All five siblings in her family served in World War II; all returned.

After the war, she studied and worked in Boston until she met Erling Delmar Sedergren, a chemical engineering grad from Yale. They were married in 1949 and moved to Woodbury where they lived for over forty years, raising two daughters. Mr. Sedergren died in 1991.

Justine kept busy with volunteer activities, donating her PR talents to Waterbury Hospital and the Hartford Symphony among others. She was the oldest member of the Heritage Village Happy Tappers. An accomplished artist, including portraiture, she favored oil paintings that captured her subject realistically.

At the age of 58, she studied on her own for the Series 7 exam to become a licensed stock broker. She joined Merrill Lynch when it opened its office in Southbury. Her clients were devoted to her and her conservative portfolio management until she retired 15 years later.

Upon retirement, Justine sang with the Waterbury Chorale including the group’s annual foreign concert tours in China, Turkey, Spain, and the Alps. She rode her bike well into her 70s. Living at Pomperaug Woods, she performed in stage shows, exhibited some of her paintings, and joined the Saturday afternoon poker group.

Survivors include two daughters, Nan (Walter) Greenough of Winnetka, IL, Lyn (Andrew) Cushman of Greenwich, CT and three grandchildren Alex Greenough (Aversa Sheldon), Sara (Thomas) Stern and Drew Kratovil. In lieu of flowers, please consider donating to the Southbury Public Library.

A memorial celebration will be held at Pomperaug Woods, Southbury CT in the Garden Room on Thursday, October 24 at 3 pm. Munson Lovetere Funeral Home assisted with the arrangements. To leave an online condolence for the family please visit www.munsonloveterefuneralhome.com

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