Obituary: Thomas L. Breving, 78, of Oxford

Thomas L. Breving, 78, of Oxford, beloved husband of Darlene Giambra Breving, died peacefully on Sunday, Sept. 22, 2013, in CT Hospice, surrounded by his loving family.

Mr. Breving was born in Cincinnati, Ohio, on Sept. 21, 1935, son of the late Louis and Gertrude Keller Breving. Later, the family settled in Rye, N.Y. Tom served in the U.S. Army from 1959-1961 and included a tour in Korea. He was a graduate of the Academy of Aeronautics.

He began his career at Hamilton Standard in Windsor Locks, CT. He later was employed for 28 years as a dedicated supervisor of technical publications and in reliability engineering at Avco/Textron Lycoming.

Before settling in Oxford with his wife Darlene, Tom was a very active individual in the community of Milford, where he resided on many community boards (including the building of the new Milford library), political campaigns and was an avid tennis player and N.Y. Giants fan. After retirement, he enjoyed hiking, traveling, woodworking, bird watching, classical music, volunteering at Bent on the River and tracking weather on his home weather station.

Tom’s life was a life devoted to family, faith, and service to his church and others. Tom was a devout communicant of St. Thomas the Apostle Church in Oxford. He will truly be missed by all who knew and loved him.

In addition to his beloved wife Darlene of 27 years, he is survived by his son, Christopher Breving and his wife Sherrie of Orange; his daughter, Susan Almand and her husband William of North Carolina, and their mother, Linda Breving of New Haven; three step-children, George Mitchell Jr. and his wife Shirley of Oxford, Lisa Patterson and her husband Joseph of Monroe, and Kathleen Heil and her husband Henry of Colorado; a brother, Lawrence Breving and sister in law, Edna (Susan) of New Hampshire; sister-in-law Patricia Pirritino and brother-in-law, Dominic of Ansonia.

Tom was blessed with 11 grandchildren, Kadie and Erika Groh, Amanda and Olivia Breving, Stephanie, Amanda, and Katie Mitchell, Nicole and Evan Patterson, Zachary and Zoe Heil, and many nieces, nephews, and friends.

Visiting hours will be held on Thursday, Sept. 26, 2013, from 4-7 p.m. in the chapel of the Spinelli-Ricciuti/Bednar-Osiecki Funeral Home, 62 Beaver St. in Ansonia. On Friday, friends and relatives are invited to attend his funeral at 8:45 a.m. from the funeral home, followed by a Mass of Christian Burial at 10 a.m. at St. Thomas the Apostle Church, 733 Oxford Road in Oxford.

Interment will follow in Mountain Meadows Cemetery in Seymour. Memorial contributions in Tom’s name may be made to St. Thomas the Apostle Church or Hospice Homecare through the funeral home. To send an act of sympathy or obtain driving directions, please visit www.spinelliricciutifh.com.