Lorraine Louise (Lacy) VanderWende, 89, of Newtown died October 26 at Bethel Health Care, following a short illness. She was born August 17, 1925, in the house her grandfather built in 1899, in New Haven. She was the daughter of Helen and James Lacy.

She grew up in New Haven, and lived there until her marriage to Paul VanderWende III. They moved to Barrington, R.I., and then to Newtown in 1963.

As a young woman, Mrs VanderWende was on the shooting team for Winchester Firearms, a company for which her father worked as a gunsmith. She held a world record Ladies Individual Gallery Course Iron Sights, and was the winner of the Small Bore Any Sights National Championship in 1953. That trophy can still be seen in the NRA building in Washington, DC, according to her family.

In Newtown, Mrs VanderWende was very involved in The Newtown Woman’s Club, GFWC. She was the first president of the Newtown Woman’s Club, serving from 1968 to 1970, and most recently served as the club’s historian. Since 1988, she designed the annual Newtown ornament for the Newtown Woman’s Club, working with Woodbury Pewterers. Every Labor Day, until this past one, she set up shop in front of the C.H. Booth Library during the Labor Day Parade, where she and fellow members of the Woman’s Club sold the ornaments. She was happy to have designed the 2014 ornament before falling ill.

She was a member of Charter Oak and Fairchester chapters of the Historical Society of Early American Decoration. Her passion was painting, and she taught theorem painting, the art of oil on white velvet, and stenciling, through Newtown Adult Education and at her home. She is also remembered for her sewing talents, reverse painting on glass, tinsel painting, and gold leaf and bronzing on antique furniture. She also taught the scissor art of scherenschnitte.

Mrs VanderWende was a familiar face at local election voting sites, serving as a volunteer ballot clerk.

She was a longtime member of the Newtown Congregational Church, joining shortly after moving to Newtown. She played in the bell choir and was a member of the Circle of Hope women’s group.

Her son, James VanderWende, and his wife Shelley, of Woodstock, Vt.; a sister, Shirley Asis, and her husband Edward; two grandchildren, Captain James VanderWende, USAF, and wife Kelly, of Washington, DC, and Rochelle Wilson, and husband Matthew, of Bethel, Vt.; her 18-month-old great-granddaughter Genevieve; and many friends locally survive Mrs VanderWende. Her husband and a son, Paul IV, predeceased her.

A memorial service will take place Saturday, November 8, at 11 am, at Newtown Congregational Church. A reception will follow in the Great Room of the church. Burial will be private, at the convenience of the family.

Memorial donations may be made to the American Diabetes Association, at www.diabetes.org.

Honan Funeral Home, Newtown, is in charge of arrangements.

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