Obituary: Sandra (Kovacs) Emerson, 86, of Madison

Obituary courtesy of Guilford Funeral Home:

Monday, September 4, 2023 Sandra (Kovacs) Emerson, 86, passed away at her Madison home. She was the wife of the late Gary deLaessoe Emerson. Sandra (“Sandy”) was born in Danbury, CT on January 3, 1937, daughter of the late Alexander J. Kovacs & Mrs. Christine (Bradley) Kovacs. Survived by her four children, Ann Marshall of Dallas, TX, Tim Marshall (Michele) of Palm Beach Gardens, FL, Geoff Marshall (Tess) of Nashville, TN, and Chris Marshall (Cathy) of St. Louis, along with two stepsons, Gary de. Emerson, Jr. (USMC) and Commander Tracy de. Emerson (Leslie), of Norfolk, VA. She also is survived by four grandchildren, Sean Marshall, Kelly Jordan (Matt), Reid Marshall, and John Marshall (Callee Tyree), and four great grandchildren (Kinsley, Kallie, Kayden, and Kodi Jordan). Sister of Christine Durkin of Danbury, and Al Kovacs (Debbie) of Melbourne Beach, FL and Karen Kovacs, wife of Don Kovacs (deceased). Beloved aunt to Craig Kovacs, Donya Rosario, Annie Kovacs, Liz Durkin, Kelly Durkin Lareau and Donya Rosario.

Sandy grew up in Danbury and graduated from Danbury High School. She chose a career in nursing and graduated from the Yale New Haven School of Nursing in 1957. She lived and worked in a number of cities and hospitals, spending most of her career at the National Institutes of Health, working as a cancer research RN. She eventually settled in Connecticut and Florida, and when she retired from nursing, she took up interior design. She had a wonderful sense of style and was an expert shopper, always on the hunt for something unique and special.

She loved traveling and playing golf and bridge with her friends. She was a long-time member of the Madison Country Club and the Madison Beach Club, as well as Sailfish Point and the Yacht & Country Club in Stuart, Florida. Sandy loved a party, and she and Gary kept their social calendars full, as they had many friends wherever they went. She especially loved being “Grandma Sandy” to her four grandchildren, and they loved her for her warmth, style, and occasional mischievousness. Those traits, along with kindness, wit, and a positive outlook, are why she was so loved and will be missed by so many.

Friends are invited to calling hours on Sunday, September 10 from 4 – 7 pm at the Guilford Funeral Home, 115 Church St., Guilford. Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at St. George Church, 33 Whitfield St, Guilford on Monday, September 11 at 10:00 am. Burial will be held in St. Peter’s Cemetery, 71 Lake Ave. Ext, Danbury. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the American Heart Association (www.heart.org)