Obituary of Mildred E. Johnson

Millie was born in Philadelphia, PA in 1918 to the late Sarah May Mahony and Howard L. Woodward. She was a 1935 graduate of the Philadelphia School for Girls where she was voted most likely to succeed in music and the arts. She became an accomplished singer and pianist as a young woman and sang on the radio and at wedding receptions while living in Philadelphia. In 1938 she entered and won the Miss North Pennsylvania beauty pageant. While attending undergraduate school at Temple University she met her future husband Joseph and they subsequently married in 1943. Millie and Joe (who grew up in Bridgeport) lived in California during WWII and moved back to Philadelphia upon Joe's discharge from the Army while Joe completed his dental degree in oral surgery in 1948 at Univ. of PA. Millie then moved to Stamford, CT with her husband where he practiced dentistry and oral surgery and to Darien in 1955. Millie loved spending time at the beach with her three children Sally, Paddies and Pete (and friends) during her summers and had no difficulty making friends along the way. She had many close friends over the years she kept in touch with and that were a great comfort to her. Millie was known to have an infectious laugh and spent many nights entertaining guests at the piano in her Noroton Bay home during the 1950's and 1960's. Millie loved swimming at the Darien YMCA well into her 80's, bargain shopping and dining out at local restaurants with friends. Always independent, she drove her car daily until the age of 92 and maintained a tradition of calling her children, daughter-in-law and grandchildren singing birthday greetings to them in a remarkable vibrant voice. Millie is survived by her three children; Sarah E. Johnson, Judith J. Austin and D. Peter Johnson; her son in-law Alexander J. Austin and daughter-in-law Maura Callahan Johnson; her grandchildren Alexander B. Austin and Jennifer A. Horrillo; two great grandchildren and last but not least her beloved dog Lulu. A memorial service will be held in her honor on Saturday, March 23rd at Edward Lawrence Funeral Home, 2119 Post Road Darien, CT at 3:00PM. There will be visiting before the service starting at 2:00PM. The family would like to extend a special thank you to the Nurses and Staff of Stamford Hospital, CCU 2nd floor, Masonicare Health Center in Wallingford and Darien Post 53 for their remarkable skill, affection & compassion shown to their mother. In lieu of flowers, the family asks that donations in Millie's honor be made to one of the above organizations. Funeral Home: Edward Lawrence Funeral Home 2119 Post Road Darien, CT USA 06820