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Muriel Burleigh, 85, Former Norwalk Resident, Elementary School Teacher

NORWALK, Conn. - Muriel (Sunbury) Burleigh, formerly of Norwalk, died Friday, March 14. She was 85.

Muriel Burleigh

Muriel Burleigh

Photo Credit: The Daily Voice/Contributed

Burleigh was born Dec. 13, 1928, in Lowell, Mass., to Kenneth and Margaret (Carroll) Sunbury. She attended Sudbury High School in Massachusetts where she graduated as valedictorian. From there she went on to New Paltz Teachers College in New York, and again graduated as valedictorian of her class. She became an elementary school teacher, and taught in Wantagh, N.Y. and Norwalk.

After 25 years of teaching, she pursued a career as an optometric technician, working in Bridgeport for several years. Her final career change was at Dart Dental Supply, where she became its first administrative assistant and bookkeeper; a position she held for almost 10 years. She lived in Norwalk for 38 years, before moving to Vernon in 2005.

She was president of the Norwalk Garden Club, as well as a volunteer at the Westport Nature Center. She was a member of the First Congregational Church on the Green, and for the past nine years, of South United Methodist Church in Manchester.

Burleigh is survived by her sons, Art (Debbie) Stengel of Stratford and Mark (Sue) Stengel of Brookfield, N.H..; daughter, Leslie Wolfenden (David) of Manchester; six grandchildren; three great grandchildren; sister, Carolyn Pye of Maynard, Mass.; and brother, Stanley (Judy) Sunbury of Tarpon Springs, Fla. She was predeceased by her parents; husband, John "Jack" Burleigh; first husband, Arthur J. Stengel; and grandson, Jarid Moody.

Calling hours are Friday, March 28 from 6 to 8 p.m. at Holmes Funeral Home, 400 Main St., Manchester. A memorial service will be celebrated at 11 a.m. Saturday, March 29 at South United Methodist Church, 1226 Main St., Manchester. Burial will be private in Ossipee, N.H.

In lieu of flowers, gifts in Burleigh's memory may be made to the South United Methodist Church Elevator Fund. 1226 Main St. Manchester, CT 06040.

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