On Friday, May 13, Charlie Fadus (Charles E. Fadus), age 95 years, 10 months, 28 days, excitedly was reunited with the love of his life, Jean, in Heaven with our Lord.

Having been born in Waterbury, Conn., on June 15, 1926, to Charles H. Fadus and Margaret Pulaski-Fadus, Charlie lived in Waterbury until enlisting in the US Navy during World War II, to serve on the oldest naval ship, USS Dover, where he was the ship’s official bugler.

Shortly after serving in the US Navy, Charlie graduated from Cincinnati College of Embalming, becoming a funeral director and embalmer, to then work at Delurey Funeral Home in Danbury.

It was there in Danbury where he met the love of his life, Jean Cahill, whom he married on April 24, 1954.

They soon made their home in Danbury, proudly raising their two children, Diana and Paul.

Shortly after, Charlie made a career change, to open a painting business in 1957, where he was a painting contractor well into his 80s.

Charlie and Jean moved to Newtown in 1977.

Charlie was passionate about music, playing brass instruments, and playing his slide trombone up to the week before his death.

He was known to play “Taps” each Memorial Day and felt honored to play “Taps” with his son Paul at “Taps Along the Housatonic River,” last May.

He was also a prolific writer of prose, poetry and narratives, along with being a colorful storyteller, especially telling his “crow’s nest” story repetitively to all who would listen.

He was an avid oil painter, having completed 67 oil paintings in the four months preceding his death. His way of spreading joy was to gift those who lovingly crossed his path with one of his expressive oil paintings.

There was never a time you went to visit without being served ice cream, cookies, or seasonal watermelon.

Charlie left a legacy of always being empathetic, kind, thoughtful, caring, and genuine to others.

His spirituality, zest for life, creativity, and resilience made him a larger-than-life man to his family and friends.

He always put family first, especially when it came to spending time with his treasured great-granddaughters, Charlotte Jean (5) Kearns and Caroline Kearns (2½), and 1-year-old Kenzie (“Cricket”) Vendel. He played Barbies with the girls, and taught them how to paint with oils and acrylics. He started that with each of them as soon as they could hold a brush.

Affectionately known as “Bee” to his grandchildren, he was a frequent, welcomed sight on Sugar Lane in his pearl white Buick. He was best buddies to Shannon Paproski, who was at his side at the final Good-Bye. He continued to drive up to just a few weeks before his death, getting great pleasure visiting granddaughter Stephanie Kearns, and her family, always greeting them with cookies and Kit-Kat bars. He will be sorely missed by Stephanie and Dan Kearns, Shannon Paproski and Chris Doyle, Nick Fadus and Victoria Flanagan, and Olivia Rose Fadus.

Charlie was predeceased by his wife of 64 years, Jean; brother Richard Fadus, and sister JoAnn Gizzi.

He is survived by his daughter and son-in-law, Diana and Stephen Paproski (Newtown); his son and daughter-in-law, Paul D. Fadus and Cris Carvalho Fadus; his sister-in-law Marie (Idarola) Fadus; cousin Margaret Rose Pulaski; and many nieces, nephews, and great-nieces and great-nephews.

Special thanks to his caring friend, Kevin Roche, Dr Allan Davis, and Dr Guillermo Ballerino.

There will be a celebration of life on June 5, 2-5 pm (prayer service at 3 o’clock), at Castle Hill Farm, 1 Sugar Lane, Newtown. The family will ask everyone to join together doing a few of Charlie’s favorite things: sharing stories with family and friends, eating too much ice cream, and dancing to the music. In case of inclement weather, visit castlehillfarm.net for updates.

Charlie made it his mission to “make one person a little happier each day!” whether by a phone call, smile, compliment, or just being appreciative. May we all pass this forward in his memory.

His final words were, “I’m so contented and that’s what it is all about. Thank you all.”