Obituary of Idris Alderson

Idris R. Alderson, 91, of 36 Curtis Farm Road, retired president of the Alderson Funeral Homes, Inc., died Thursday, October 26, 2000 at Waterbury Hospital. He was the husband of Ruth (Noyes) Alderson and the late Lelia (Scott) Alderson. Mr. Alderson was born in Seymour, April 9, 1909, son of the late Idris and Laura A. (Westerman) Alderson, and moved to Waterbury in his youth. He started to work full time with his father at the age of 17, having graduated from Crosby High School, Class of 1926. He graduated from the Cincinnati College of Embalming in 1930. The business was incorporated that year, when he was named secretary, a position he held until 1970 when he became president upon the death of his father. The Alderson firm started with one funeral home in Waterbury and Mr. Alderson and his brother and father expanded the business to six homes in six cities in Connecticut, including the former Alderson-Prentiss Funeral Home in New London. He was a former Naugatuck resident from the early 30s until moving to Middlebury in 1960. Mr. Alderson was a licensed funeral director in the State of Connecticut since 1926 and retired from the Alderson Funeral Home in 1987 with 61 years of service. Upon his retirement, his long time employees, John J. Martin, III (who died July 10, 2001) John W. Ford and Jay Anthony bought the business and elected Mr. Alderson Chairman of the Board Emeritus, a position he held until his death. He was a former member and past master of Euclid Lodge A.F. & A.M. and later affiliated with Shepherd-Salem Lodge No. 78 A.F. & A.M. of Naugatuck. He was a member of the former Eureka Allerton Chapter Royal Arch Masons; a member of the Waterbury Council; a past commander of Clark Commandary No. 7, Knights Templar. He was also a member of the Scottish Rite Bodies Valley of Waterbury; the Lafayette Consistory 32nd Degree Valley of Bridgeport and Sphinx Temple Ancient Arabic Order Nobles of the Mystic Shrine, where he was an honorary member of the Directors Association. He was also a past president and member of Sphinx Kaabans Shrine Club of Plymouth. He was a member of Dimaryp Court #66, Royal Order of Jesters. He was a life member of the former Centennial Lodge Independent Order of Odd Fellows and was a former member of the Waterbury Rotary and a member of the Naugatuck Rotary Club since 1932. He was active in Y.M.C.A. work, in both Naugatuck and Waterbury since 1919 and was a former trustee, director and past president of the Waterbury YMCA. He was a past board member of the National Selected Morticians (now Selected Independent Funeral Homes) and was elected Secretary-Treasurer of the organization in 1961. He was a member and past director of the Connecticut Funeral Directors Assiociation and a member of the Waterbury Area Funeral Directors Association. He was a member of the Congregational Church of Naugatuck and the Middlebury Congregational Church. Besides his wife of Middlebury and Deerfield Beach, Fla., he leaves a son, Richard I. Alderson of Deerfield Beach; a daughter, Lelia Jane Schuster of Middlebury; a sister, Ina A. Kluttig of Cheshire (who died January 1, 2002), four grandchildren and three great-grandchildren. Private funeral services were held Monday, October 30, 2000 at The Alderson Funeral Home of Waterbury, 70 Central Ave. Burial was in Riverside Cemetery. Friends called at the funeral home Sunday, October 29, 2000 from 2:00 to 5:00 p.m. Memorial contributions may be made to Shriners Burn Institute, 51 Blossom St., Boston, Mass. 02114.