Myrna Thurston

Middlebury - Myrna (Long) Thurston, 82, passed away suddenly on Saturday, November 1, 2014, at Saint Mary's Hospital with family by her side. She was the loving wife of the late James F. Thurston, Jr. Myrna was born in Naugatuck, on May 29, 1932, the oldest of three children of the late William and Antoinette (Nardello) Long. Raised in the little Italy section of Naugatuck, she was very proud of her Italian heritage. She graduated from the Perry School of Business and worked as secretary to the President of W. J. Megin, Inc. Myrna treasured her friends; playing Bridge, going out with the Birthday group, enjoying the theatre, and golfing at Highland Greens in her younger years. To know her was to love her. She was always smiling and making friends everywhere she went and always saw the good in everyone. She was very proud of her children and grandchildren and will be remembered as a loving mother and grandmother, always mailing a card for even the smallest accomplishment or just to say hello. She was proud to have recently attended her 65th high school class reunion from Naugatuck High School. She will be greatly missed by her five children, Leslie (Thurston) Mengacci and James Mengacci, of Naugatuck, Sharon (Thurston) Torello of Middlebury, James F. Thurston, III and his wife, Gail, of Thomaston, Jeffrey R. Thurston and his wife, Melissa, of Litchfield and Allison (Thurston) Pugliese and her husband, Richard, of Middlebury; her grandchildren, who were the light of her life, James and Michael Mengacci, Lauren and Christopher Torello, Heather Farrell and her husband, Jeff, James F. Thurston, IV, and his wife, Kim, Kelly Thurston, Morgan Thurston, and Richard and Jacalyn Pugliese; and great-grandson, Jack Farrell. She is also survived by her brother, William Long, her loving sister, Joan Casey, of Edgewater, Fl., and several nieces and nephews. She was predeceased by her son-in-law, Ralph A. Torello. A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at 11 a.m. on Saturday, Nov. 8, 2014 at St. Francis of Assisi Church, 318 Church Street, Naugatuck. Burial will follow in St. James Cemetery, Naugatuck. Friends and family may call from 3 to 7 p.m. on Friday, November 7 at the Buckmiller Thurston Mengacci Funeral Home, 82 Fairview Avenue, Naugatuck. Donations "In Memory of Myrna Thurston" may be made to the Wounded Warrior Project, P.O. Box 758517, Topeka, KS 66675 or online at www.woundedwarriorproject.org.