Willard (Will) Henry Breen, 88, a longtime resident and Waterbury business owner, passed away peacefully at The Arbors in Shelburne on Sunday morning, February 9, 2020, following several years of declining health. Born in Duxbury on June 5, 1931, he was a son of the late Willis and Evalena (Kellett) Breen. On July 23, 1951, Will married the former Colleen M. Stimson in Waterbury. Colleen predeceased Will on February 17, 1991.
Growing up on Crossett Hill in Duxbury with his siblings and widowed mom, Will spent much of his early years with his mother, siblings and grandparents helping out on the family farm. Will was a 1949 graduate of Waterbury High School and continued his education at the University of Vermont, graduating with his degree in business all while working full time as a meat cutter and helping raise his three young children. As a member of the Vermont Army National Guard, Will was federally activated during the Korean War, serving in Germany as a medic.
Will acquired the Stimson Insurance Agency in Waterbury and rebranded and expanded the business to become Breen Insurance and Real Estate. In addition, Will purchased and renovated properties in the Waterbury area for resale to help provide for his growing family.
Active in his community, Will was a member of the Waterbury Rotary Club, was a longtime bank director starting with the Bank of Waterbury and continued throughout its several acquisitions including TD Bank, was a member of Father Galligan Council Knights of Columbus and the Harry N. Cutting American Legion Post 59 and was a parishioner of St. Andrew Catholic Church, all in Waterbury.
An avid golfer Will enjoyed his longtime membership at Blush Hill Country Club in Waterbury. His other interests included running, playing basketball, enjoying his camp on Perry Hill, cross-country skiing, snowmobiling and spending many summers entertaining family and friends at his backyard pool. He is lovingly remembered for being the host and emcee for the annual family Thanksgiving talent shows.
Will is loved and mourned by his children, Diana Himmel and her husband Larry of Woodbridge, CT, Mikki Casey and her husband Mitch of Waterbury, Marcy Blauvelt and her husband Jeff of Waterbury Center, Kelly von Trapp and her husband Martin of Waitsfield, and Kevin Breen and his wife Donna of Waterbury; his 16 grandchildren and 26 great-grandchildren; as well as extended family. Will was predeceased by a sister, Mary Breen, and a brother, Willis Breen Sr.
Private graveside services will be held from Holy Cross Cemetery in Duxbury. For those who wish, memorial gifts would be appreciated to Washington County Mental Health Services, P.O. Box 647, Montpelier, VT 05601 (www.wcmhs.org). Assisting the family is Perkins-Parker Funeral Home and Cremation Service in Waterbury. To send online condolences visit www.perkinsparker.com or the funeral home Facebook page.
