LYDIA JANE SCHOENBRUNN, devoted wife of the late Alfred George Schoenbrunn for 65 years, died June 16, 2017 after a short illness. Lydia Jane Morse was born July 15, 1927 to William Eggerdon and Sue Ellen (Edwards) Morse in Newark, New Jersey. Lydia was predeceased by her cherished brother William E. Morse, Jr. Lydia and her brother Billy grew up in Brooklyn, New York and spent summers on her Granddaddy's farm in Warrenton, Virginia. Lydia received her high school diploma from the High School of Music and Art which she later credited with "opening my ears and eyes to beauty and nourishing a lifelong desire to learn." She received her Certificate for Textile Design from Pratt Institute. Lydia devoted her young adulthood to raising a family but continued her passion for the arts as both a hobby and with family visits to theater, concerts and museums. Later, her talent for calligraphy led to a midlife freelance business. Her love of books led to a position as assistant manager of The Bookworm in West Hartford. A member of the League of Women Voters since the 1950s and a lifelong supporter of human rights, Lydia was an enthusiastic Simsbury resident for the past 50 years, as a volunteer at the Simsbury Public Library, the Visiting Nurses Association, and the McLean Auxiliary. At election time she could be found checking in voters at the polls. She and Al were longtime members of the Unitarian Universalist Fellowship of the Farmington Valley and the Simsbury Land Trust. She enjoyed the Simsbury Historical Society, the Hartford Symphony, The Hartford Stage and for several years volunteered at the Greater Hartford Open golf tournament for an inside-the-ropes view of the excitement. She was endlessly empathetic, thoughtful and self-aware, She loved exploring new places using her legendary navigational skills. She enjoyed the treasure hunt of tag sales and was always an avid reader. Lydia is survived by a son John Schoenbrunn and his wife Sue of Granby; two daughters, Gail Schoenbrunn and her wife Jean DeBenedictis of Boston and Barbara Leighton and her husband Gordon Clint of Newbury Park, California and six grandchildren, Lisa Levine, Eric Schoenbrunn and their mother Carole Noonan; Lily DeBenedictis, Brian Leighton, Adam Clint and Laura Acasio; as well as Sue's sons David, Kurt and Erik and families, and eight great-grandchildren, who were all loved and cherished. In addition, she is survived by the families of her beloved late brother- and sister-in-law Erwin and Dorothy Schoenbrunn, including son Frederick Schoenbrunn and daughters Carol Lambiase, Mary Magnoli and Laura Bradford and their families. She is also survived by her beloved cousins Sonja Pizzarelli and Wilbur Nielsen and her dear friend from high school Judy Mantovani. A Memorial Gathering will be held at the Simsbury Historical Society, 800 Hopmeadow Street, Simsbury, CT from 1 pm to 3 pm on July 15, 2017, which would have been her 90th birthday. In lieu of flowers the family requests donations be made to the Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial in Simsbury (mlkinct.com) or to Reach Out & Read Connecticut (reachoutandread.org).