Pauline Banville Schulte’s Memorial Page
slide show, obituary, memorial service recording, & family reflections

Pauline Schulte’s superpower was her bubbly nature and ability to make friends. She held onto childhood friends, Madge and Pat, through all the twists and turns and is the last of the trio to pass from this world. There were many others from Bridgeport and Stratford who trekked to Lake Congamond for summer parties each year. Boat rides were her passion; she loved being a tour guide and recounting the history of homes on the lake. Her husband, Lester, captained the boat, and later, son Darryl continued these favorite pleasures, taking her out as much as weather allowed.

She survived her parents, Henry Banville, Sr and Josephine Boulay Banville. Pauline treasured her brother, Hank Banville, wife Kathy, and her sister, Anne Marie Metevier, and husband Ronnie. They remained close throughout her lifetime.

When I was growing up, Mom threw delightfully themed birthday parties and made every holiday special. Our home-made Halloween costumes always won prizes: like Little Bo Peep and the three puff-ball sheep! She taught me to read before I went to school and surely her love of books sparked the same in me. She raised independent, self-motivated, creative, and highly successful children. Daughter Darcey spearheaded Pauline’s final birthday party, planning and preparing for months, and baking for days for the “The Very Merry Un-Birthday Tea” with an Alice in Wonderland theme; as Donna, Darcey, Doreen, Darris, and Darryl banded together to create a magical wonderland of imagination and delicious delicacies to serve the many guests who gathered in her own back yard.

Pauline Schulte and her beloved husband, Lester, moved to Suffield in the summer of 1976. They shared a blended family of Pauline’s children, some already grown: Donna DeNomme, Darcey DeMatte, Doreen Maloney, Darris Grano, and Darryl DeNomme and Lester’s children: Michael Schulte, Wayne Schulte, Laurie Nelson, and Susan O’Donnell.

Pauline held many human services, people-based jobs, beginning with helping her parents run their popular restaurant, Banville’s Lunch in Bridgeport, Connecticut as she was growing up and as a young mother. Pauline was a realtor in Suffield for many years. She loved to find that perfect home and was proud that many people stayed in those homes for decades. Her own home on the lake was a constant source of joy, and gratefully, Darryl and Doreen, with help from the rest of us when we could, enabled her to live in her home right until her last breath.

Grandchildren Todd Lafferty, Christian Hathaway, Emily Hripak, Sean Grano, Troy Grano, and Amanda Maloney have many fond memories with Grandma Schulte, “Meme.” She was proud of each of them.

The Suffield Senior Center provided a valuable community for Pauline during her last few years. Too many “thank you’s” to mention. The minibus made it easy for her to attend activities every day of the week at the center, as well as field trips to restaurants, shows, and fun tours. Mom thrived within this community . . . and when she developed problems with her foot, her friends rallied to meet her at the door and wheel her around. We appreciate all of you.

So how do you encapsulate a life of ninety-two years? There is so much more to say, so much that can never be said. Days, weeks, years, many seasons of change. Precious moments: those of challenge and success, closeness and conflict, livin’ easy and times of strife. They all make up a life. And WE carry with us that which is most important. However she touched you, whatever she meant to you, you carry Pauline in your heart. That connection is eternal, as love, in its many forms, prevails.

Written by Donna, eldest daughter
12/23/24

“Pauline Schulte’s superpower was her bubbly nature and ability to make friends.”

While we are mourning our loss, others are rejoicing behind the Veil. Pauline is Home.

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