Kathleen "Kayanne" Clausing, 91, of Danbury, CT, passed away on August 12, 2025 in Newtown, CT.

Kayanne’s journey began on April 11, 1934. She was born in Danbury and lived there all her life, except for a grudging 10-year foray into Bethel starting in her 20s and the past 5 years in Sandy Hook. She did not like to travel but what an adventure she had!

Her parents were A. Legrand and Kathleen Wilbur. Kayanne met Hooker (Richard) at 16 and they married in 1955. Together they raised 3 daughters, Brenda, Barbara, and Maura Salvati and were a large part of their grandchildren’s lives: Crystle Haynes, Tyler Haber, Heather Alvear, and Amber Mattia. Kayanne is also survived by 4 great grandchildren, her Godson and nephew Jeffrey Hanna, as well as numerous nieces and nephews.

She joins Hooker, Brenda, a lost child, her parents, sister Gail Hanna, and her other deceased family members and friends, now on her next pathway.

Saint Peter’s Catholic Church in Danbury was central to her life as she was baptized, married, and attended mass there much of her life. One did not need to be concerned about an unbaptized baby: Kayanne would bring holy water and do it herself! 

Her family and friends (most of whom were lifelong friends!) were truly cherished by her. If Kayanne loved you, you knew it from her actions, not necessarily her words. She had a deep sense of family traditions. Christmas Eve dinner always had Irish potato pancakes that her grandmother made. Birthdays were celebrated with extended family. Kayanne set up her children’s bassinette for grandchildren, nieces and nephews, and special friends’ newborns. She was the keeper of the family’s baptismal gown handmade in the late 1800s and was worn by many children, whose names were kept on a list.

She graduated from Danbury High School in 1951 and Danbury Hospital School of Nursing in 1954 and worked as a registered nurse for many years. The first caption in her nursing school yearbook reads “the epitome of neatness.” This trait continued throughout Kayanne’s life!

Kayanne quietly influenced many lives during her journey. She served with the Salvation Army for most of her life, having organized knitting groups in several senior centers and supplying the yarn to make over 1,000 hats, mittens, and scarves to be given out each Christmas. She supported Hooker in his work with the Bethel Lions Club and together they supported Guiding Eyes for the Blind. Kayanne also nursed and assisted several of her cousins over the years.

Kayanne chose to donate her body to Yale Medical School to further medical education.

A celebration of Kayanne’s life will be held on Friday, October 31, 2025 at 10:30 in Saint Peter's Church in Danbury. Memorial donations to Kayanne may be made to Saint Peter’s Church at 104 Main Street, Danbury, CT 06810 or Guiding Eyes for the Blind at 611 Granite Springs Road, Yorktown Heights, NY 10598.

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