Lillian E. Sewell

Lillian Ellen Sewell, 91, wife of the late Vaughn Sewell, Sr., died on Friday, September 25, 2026.

Born on November 24, 1934, she was the daughter of the late Paul C. Dobratz, Sr. and Delma (Dellinger) Dobratz. She graduated from Meriden High School Class of 1952. She was employed by the State of CT and was active in the union as a past President of AFSCME Chapter 196, and past President of AFSCME Chapter 4 Retirees.

Lillian was a member of First Lutheran Church. She taught Sunday School for many years and was a past President of the Ladies Guild. She continued to be a Stephen Minister for over 20 years until her death. Lillian would assist with communion on holidays with Pastor Carl Kramer. She would visit the shut-in church members to give them communion. On holidays she would make goodie care packages for each one with the help of her angel of a caretaker, Gerri Beach.

She is survived by two sons, Michael and his wife Kathy, and Vaughn Jr. and his wife Nancy; a daughter, Linda and her husband David Canalia; loving grandchildren, Becky and her husband Vin Kowalczyk, Emma Sewell, Vaughn Sewell, III, Joseph Sewell, Josh Ruiz and his wife Grace, and Erin Canalia-Le and her husband Long; precious great-grandchildren, Leo Sullivan, Kara Kowalczyk, Lily Ruiz, Ivy Ruiz, and Ethan Le; nieces and nephews, Wanda, Beverly, Delma, Sarah, Carol, and Scott; a special sister-in-law, Fern Sewell, of Houlton, ME; and many nieces and nephews.

In addition to her husband, Lillian was predeceased by a brother, Paul C. Dobratz, Jr. (wife Beverly), a sister, Alma Charette, a grandson, Scot Weston (wife Carol), a granddaughter, Danielle Marie Canalia, and a loving niece, Cindy Aston.

Many thanks to all of Lillian’s friends and special caregivers, Gerri, Aline, Marge; and special doctor who was always there for her, Dr. Alkesh Patel. Thank you to the staff of Smilow in Hamden and Dr. Jeremy Kortmansky. Special thanks to all the staff at the Southington Care Center, where she spent the last eight months of her life; they were kind and loving caretakers.

Friends are invited to visit with Lillian’s family on Thursday, October 1, 2026, from 9:00-11:00 a.m. in Beecher & Bennett-Flatow Funeral Home, 48 Cook Ave., Meriden. A funeral service celebrating her life will be held at 11:30 a.m. in First Lutheran Church, 232 Bristol St., Southington, CT 06489. Interment will follow in Gethsemane Cemetery, Meriden. In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation in her memory to First Lutheran Church, or to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, 501 St. Jude Place, Memphis, TN 38105.

To send condolences, please visit www.beecherandbennett.com.