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Lisl Standen memorial website

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On behalf of the members, staff and Board of Directors of Prime Time House, I send sincere condolences to the family of Lisl Standen. Mrs. Standen was a loyal supporter of Prime Time House and her devotion to human services and to people needing those services should be an inspiration to the next generation. Prime Time's mission in Torrington which is to assist people coping with persistent mental illness regain productive, independent lives through opportunities for education, housing and employment resonated with Mrs. Standen.

Again, we are grateful to have been a part of her life of service and we send our deepest sympathies to her entire family.

Warren D. Sparrow,
Executive Director,
PRIME TIME HOUSE, INC.
810 Main Street
Torrington, CT 06790

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I first would like to how deeply saddened I am to learn that Lisl passed away. I was one of the nurses at New Milford Hospital that cared for her on many many occasions. She was the most positive pleasant and independant women. She loved to tell stories about her dog and couldnt wait to get him out of the kennel. She reminded me so very much of my own grandmother as she too was from Europe. We instantly bonded and even when I was not assigned to her I made sure I checked up on her frequently. She was a delight from the the day she was admitted until the day she left. As such a viral independent woman it was difficult toward the end to see her really want and need the help, that is what saddened me the most was to watch the unfortunate decline in her health. She was a pleasure to care for and I know she was very loved by all of her family ( all over the world!) She was the one who had the most flower arrangments on our entire floor ... we knew she was loved!
Please accept my sincerest condolences! I will miss caring for her!
Wendy Caruso, RN New Milford Hospital

(3 gift hampers have been delivered, one for each shift for the nurses that cared so well for Lisl - with sincere thanks from the Standen family)

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I first got to know Lisl as a member of the Kent, CT Affordable Housing Task Force. Lisl wasn't on the Task Force, but never missed a meeting. Lisl was active at the State level and a major force as an Affordable Housing advocate. She also was present at every meeting of the Regional Planning Agency's Affordable Housing group.
Lisl cared a great deal about many people, especially those who were denied a place at society's table, and advocated for them with no regard for any criticism directed at her from those seeking to keep the status quo.
I often saw Lisl out walking in the neighborhood, often with Anthony before his death. Her devotion to Anthony, and his to her, was obvious and quite touching.
Lisl made a permanent contribution to the Town of Kent, and will be long and fondly remembered.

Phil Lang

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Lisl was a truly extraordinary woman. I met her through the Connecticut Housing Coalition when she was the Housing Chair of the League of Women Voters many years ago (in the late 1970s or early 1980s). From the day I met her, she was the housing movement's "senior statesperson" whose letters and public hearing testimony carried great weight with everyone. My respect for her as a voice for decency and caring is enormous. Her work on the Central Housing Committee put her in close touch with John Papandrea when he was Commissioner of the Department of Housing; and it is my recollection that the Department of Housing's Distinguished Service Award, of which she was the first recipient, was created especially for her. I am glad I called to wish her a happy 90th birthday, and I am very sorry that those who have come to the housing movement more recently will not have the privilege of knowing her.

Rafie Podolsky

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My husband Bob and I are fortunate to have been neighbors of Lisl on Ore Hill Rd since 1999. Although we have known her a much shorter time than other people in town and in those in her many organizations did, she made a big impression on us and on our family and friends who met her at parties at our house. We were impressed with her lively spirit and determination to remain independent. We always enjoyed her stories of her past and current activities and adventures. We attended many of her classy parties;( she insisted on having shrimp cocktail or she said it was not a party.) At Christmas we were invited over to see the tree lit with real candles, something we'd heard our parents talk about but never had seen. We had a dog Nicky who was a barking friend of Kupva II. Everytime I walked Nicky up Ore Hill Rd.,Kupva would come out and bark across his invisible fence and Nicky would return the favor. The next thing I knew Lisl would come out of her front door wrapped in a robe and we'd chat at her mailbox until the dogs got too restless and I would have to move on. That ritual went on until my dog got too feeble to take a long walk and hers passed away.I know she loved that dog and the one she has now. I saw his beautiful photo in the hospital.

We are terribly saddened by her passing and will really miss her, but we feel lucky to have known her, to have experienced the incredible spirit of this amazing woman. We will never forget her. Please extend our condolences to the entire family.

Sincerely,

Carol and Bob Lenz