Anne (Vernoci) Fiyalka, age 103, of Easton, died on Sunday, November 3, 2024 peacefully in her home. She was the widow of Albert J. Fiyalka.
Anne was born and raised in Bridgeport and moved to Stamford in 1959. She moved to Easton in 1975 and lived there the rest of her life. She worked for John A. Drenckhahn Electrical Inc. in Stamford until its doors closed in the mid-1980s.
Anne played the role of Mary Magdalene in the Passion Play put on by St. John Nepomucene Church in Bridgeport from 1939 to 1948 where she met her husband Albert during rehearsals. Albert played the role of Achas, the owner of the “Upper Room”. The performances took place at the parish, the Klein Memorial and the Bushnell in Hartford.
On November 5, 1936, Amelia Earhart spoke at Warren Harding High School. Anne was one of three honor students chosen to fly with Amelia Earhart. Earhart’s message to the students was “that this is not only a man’s world but a woman’s world as well,” encouraging young women that there are no limits to what they could accomplish in life. The event shaped Anne’s life. She gave dozens of interviews about her famed flight. She shared her story and made advocating for women’s equality central to her philosophy.
On June 24, 2022 the AARP Wish of a Lifetime Foundation arranged for Anne to soar through the clouds in a plane just as she had done with Amelia Earhart as a sophomore in high school. During a vacation at her daughter Andrea’s house in Florida in March 2024, Anne participated in a computer meeting with the CEO and team of Deep Sea Visions, the company that claims to have found Earhart’s missing plane. Anne expressed her doubts about the discovery and shared her experiences from that day with Earhart. Deep Sea Visions promised to call Anne “from the deck of the boat” when they raise her plane.
Anne was a Eucharistic Minister and reader at Notre Dame Church of Easton. She was very active at the Easton senior center serving on the advisory committee and was a volunteer from its opening.
She also volunteered at the voting polls in Easton for 35 plus years which she enjoyed tremendously and volunteered at the Mercy Learning Center in Bridgeport CT tutoring low income women.
She bowled at Nutmeg bowling in Fairfield until she turned 99. She was a scrabble addict and loved the Game Show Channel and working on puzzles. She always said the secret to a long life was keeping your mind active. Purple was her favorite color, and dragonflies held a special meaning in her life after the passing of her brother, Andrew, in 2007.
Anne loved to visit her son Arthur and spouse Sharon at their home on Fire Island every summer. When she could no longer make the long walk to the house, a police officer would drive her from the ferry. She would then make pizzelles for them as a thank you.
Anne was a celebrity in the town of Easton. They celebrated her 100th birthday with a 100 car parade by her home. She was an admiration to everyone that met her and strongly believed in the power of prayer.
Knowing the span of friendships and relationships that Anne had, it is not possible to acknowledge everyone who touched her life. We would like to say a special thank you to Meta Schroeter, Cheryl and Bill Constand, and her late life caregivers, Holly and Dennis Pryor.
Anne left a note to be opened “when I am no longer here”. She wrote “I loved you all very much – Arthur and Sharon, Andrea and Mark, Arnold, Tyler, Brett, and Allyson. Be good to each other. I would have had no life without you.”
She is survived by two sons, Arthur Fiyalka and spouse Sharon Hughes Fiyalka of New York and Arnold Fiyalka of Easton; daughter Andrea Fiyalka Bouchard and spouse Mark Bouchard of Cape Coral, FL; two grandsons, Tyler Bouchard and Brett Bouchard; one granddaughter, Allyson Bouchard; two nephews, Peter Rusatsky and spouse Debbie and family and John Rusatsky and spouse Nancy and family; two nieces, Marion Luce and spouse Rob and family and Joanne Burke and spouse Andy and family. In addition to her husband, she was predeceased by her daughter, Arlene Fiyalka; her parents, Andrew and Veronica Terifay Vernoci; sister, Mary Vernoci; brother and spouse, Andrew Vernoci and Nancy Pagliuco Vernoci; and sister-in-law, Alice Fiyalka Rusatsky and spouse Peter Rusatsky.
In lieu of flowers, Anne’s wishes are that donations can be made to Notre Dame of Easton Parish or the Easton Senior Center.
Friends are invited to attend a Mass of Christian Burial on Friday, November 15, 2024 at 11:00 AM at Notre Dame of Easton Church, 655 Morehouse Rd., Easton. Burial will be at the family’s convenience.
