Eileen J. (Dusio) Button

Eileen graduated from Pittsfield High School in Pittsfield, Mass.  She received a high school scholarship to the New England Conservatory of Music in Boston.  In 1952 she graduated from the New England Conservatory with honors, receiving a B.M. Ed. Degree and in 1955 a M.M. Ed. Degree.  She studied choral conducting with Lorna Cooke DeVaron at N.E.C.  She received a scholarship to study choral conducting in the active conducting program at Tanglewood, Lenox, Mass. and conducted selections for “Tanglewood on Parade” concert.  She was a member of the Tanglewood Chorus performing with Charles Menuch and Leonard Bernstein conducting.
In 1951 Eileen was a pianist in the 50-Spinet Piano Orchestra at Symphony Hall in Boston with Arthur Fiedlar conducting.  Pianist were chosen from all over New England.
She was a member of the N.E.C. Chorus performing with the Boston Symphony Orchestra.
In 1952 she became Assistant Music Supervisor, Norwich Public Schools in Norwich, Connecticut.  In 1955 she became Supervisor of Music and developed the first music curriculum for grades 1 through 8.  She introduced the first city-wide chorus grades 5 and 6 “Have Songs, Will Sing.”  She taught in Norwich for 12 years then became a stay at home mom with her two children.
When her children became school age she returned to teaching general music in grades 7 and 8 in Montville for one year and then taught in Waterford, grades K-6 for 13 years where she retired.
She played oboe in the Norwich Symphony Orchestra under the direction of Frank Drago.
She had a song for children published “Clap Your Hands for Hanukkah” in the Instructor’s Magazine, a magazine for teachers and two others accepted for publication.  They incorporated the Kodaly method for teaching music to children.
She was choral director at St. John, the Evangelist Church in Uncasville for 3 years and Choir director of Our Lady of Perpetual Help Church in Quaker Hill for 15 years.  She was a member of the Diocesan Choir, Cathedral of Saint Patrick in Norwich under the direction of Douglas Green for 8 years.  She was a member of Our Lady of Perpetual Help Church in Quaker Hill.
Upon retirement she worked at the Connecticut College Bookshop at Connecticut Collage, assistant to the textbook manager.
She was a member of Our Lady of Perpetual Help Ladies Guild, President for 3 years, Alpha Chi Omega, Delta Omicron, music fraternity for women, president for 2 years, and Delta Kappa Gamma, professional fraternity for women educators.
Eileen, born on May 11, 1930, was the daughter of Peter and Yolanda (Icardi) Dusio, of Uncasville, formerly of Pittsfield, Mass. On April 25, 1959 she married Alton P. Button at Sacred Heart Church in Norwichtown.  Father Francis Lawlor performed the ceremony.  Together they shared a very wonderful and exciting life for 62 years.  Her best times were with Alton, her children, grandchildren and great grandchildren.  Eileen and Alton traveled to many European countries also Israel, Egypt and Hawaii and with their children, grandchildren, and great grandchildren they made many trips to their cottage on the lake, to their place in Vermont, and also to Bermuda, and the Caribbean.
She leaves her best friend and loving husband, Alton, her sons Alton P. Button II of West Brookfield, Mass., Peter L. Button of Canterbury and his wife, Brenda.  Her grandsons Zachary P. Button of West Brookfield, Mass., Peter L. Button Jr. and Aaron R. Button of Canterbury and her granddaughter, Kaitlyn Button Simakauskas, great granddaughters Laila and Lillian Simakauskas of Stafford Springs.  She also leaves a first cousin Thelma Venturini of Pittsfield, Massachusetts.
In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to Our Lady of Perpetual Help Ladies Guild Scholarship Fund, PO Box 329 Quaker Hill, CT. or Make a Wish (Duane and Kim Button Buttonwood Farm, Griswold, CT)
A calling hour will be held Saturday, July 31, 2021 from 10:00-11:00AM at Our Lady of Perpetual Help Church in Quaker Hill, CT with a Mass of Christian Burial to immediately follow at 11:00AM.  Burial will follow in Pachaug Cemetery, Griswold, CT. For online condolences please go to www.gagnefuneralhome.com

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