Our beloved Louise Irene Ingram Andrews, also known as Mimi, passed away on Thursday, November 4, at the age of 97. She was born on Valentine’s Day of 1924 in Sandy Hook, and spent her youth in Southbury. During her childhood years, Louise attended Bullet Hill School in Southbury and later on attended Woodbury High School.

During the Second World War, Louise worked in Bridgeport at the Remington Arms Munitions Factory supporting the war effort. After the war, she met the love of her life, Richard Warren Andrews, Sr. They were married in 1946 and built a home in Newtown. It was here that Louise and Richard started their family and would spend the remainder of their lives.

Louise and Richard were the true center of their family — their children and grandchildren fondly remember spending the long hot days of summer in her pool, playing baseball in the yard, or tending her garden. In colder seasons, Louise spoiled her family with turkey dinners and all of the fixings — including her famous apple pie. Louise was happiest with her whole family gathered around the dining table over a home-cooked meal. As her family grew larger, the dining table was extended further and further into the next room with the whole family elbow to elbow, but that was how Louise liked it.

Louise lived her life to the fullest and extended her kindness to every living thing she met. Stray animals were lucky if they found themselves on Louise’s doorstep — dogs, horses, raccoons, geese, ducks, and ponies included. Louise often liked to reminisce about the time she brought two ponies home in her car in the middle of a snowstorm. Even the neighborhood turkeys eventually got word of Louise’s house, and she was delighted to feed them in her yard.

Louise also spent many years of her life serving the Faith Food Pantry and was a founder and lifetime member of the Sandy Hook Volunteer Fire & Rescue Ladies Auxiliary. Louise’s kindness and contagious laughter will be greatly missed.

Louise will be lovingly remembered by her children, Patricia Andrews-Murray and husband Steve, and Richard Warren Andrews, Jr, and Barbara; grandchildren, Michael Sturges and wife Jessica Gamache, Jared Sturges and wife Julia Mennone, Richard Warren Andrews III and wife Karen, and Kimberly Andrews and Nathan Lipkind; great-grandchildren, Hazel Sturges, Ruby Mennone, and Caleb Andrews; and a close niece, Peggy Parker, and family.

Louise is preceded in death by her parents, Ernest Ingram and Mary Ingram; her husband, Richard Warren Andrews, Sr, and her 12 siblings.

Funeral services will be held at the Honan Funeral Home, 58 Main Street, Newtown on Thursday, November 11, at noon. Interment will follow in St Rose Cemetery. Friends may call at the funeral home on Thursday morning from 10 am to noon.

In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the Sandy Hook Volunteer Fire & Rescue and/or Ladies Auxiliary, sandyhookfire.com.