Obituaries: Arnold, Bonanno, McGarry, Rivers, Roesler

Harry P. Arnold, 78, passed away on Jan. 20, 2014. An accomplished trombone player, he was senior chief musician in the U.S. Coast Guard until his retirement in 1981 performing with the Coast Guard Dance Band and the Coast Guard Dixieland Jazz Band. After retiring from the military, he played with the Chic Cicchetti Hartford Jazz Orchestra, The Dick Campo Big Band, and with the Freight Train Dixieland Jazz Band at the Griswold Inn in Essex.  

Viola (Frederick) Bonanno, 96, formerly of Fort Trumbull, New London, and Pine St., Waterford, passed away on Jan. 25, 2014. She was a lifelong fashionista, working in retail first at the Casual Shoppe, D & L in the New London Mall, and JC Penny in Waterford. She loved to travel, was an accomplished Italian cook, an active volunteer and member of the Italian Dramatic Club in Fort Trumbull and St. Joseph's Church in New London.

(Mary) Carol McGarry, 69, of New London, and Enfield, N.H., passed away Saturday, Jan. 18, 2014. She taught high school English in Ledyard. Burial services will be held at 11 a.m. Tuesday, Jan. 28, at Saint Joseph Church in New London, with private interment in Saint Mary Cemetery. There will be a calling hour prior to the Mass at the Thomas L. Neilan & Sons Funeral Home, 12 Ocean Ave., New London. 

Melissa O. Rivers, 60, passed away on Tuesday, Jan 14, 2014. She worked as a CNA and is survived by her three children. A memorial service is scheduled for noon Friday, Jan. 31, at the Abounding Grace Ministries Church, 3 Connecticut Ave., New London.  

Claudine A. Roesler, 67, passed away on Saturday, Dec. 14, 2013. Born in France, she moved to Groton with her husband Ross Roesler, whom she met while working as a translator at Pfizer, Inc. in Nice. She was multi-lingual, a master gardener, gourmet cook and philanthropist. A Mass is scheduled for noon on Sunday, Feb. 2, at St. Joseph's Church in New London. A Celebration of Claudine's Life at Filomena's Restaurant in Waterford will follow.