In Memoriam

IN LOVING MEMORY - HELEN C. CHAPULIS

Helen C. (Costello-Taylor) Chapulis, 89, passed peacefully on Sunday, January 10, 2021 with her family at her side. She was born December 24, 1931, a Christmas Eve baby, in Boston, MA to Helen and Joseph Taylor. She was predeceased by her loving husband, Peter W. Chapulis, in 2005. They were married on July 27, 1957 and spent 48 wonderful years together. Helen was predeceased by her brother John Taylor, who gave his life in the Korean War following his time as a P.O.W. She was also predeceased by her cousins John O’Shea (wife Ann) and Michael A. O’Shea and her long-time friends Mary Coulouris and Sandra Gravlin. Helen leaves behind her son, Timothy J. Chapulis, of Litchfield, CT. She also leaves behind her cousin, Maureen Richardson (husband Stephen; children Heather and Kerry; grandchildren Isabella, Chloe and Sophie) and cousin’s wife Eileen O’Shea (children Michael S. and Kellie; grandchildren Megan, Michael R., Mackenzie and Matthew), all who affectionately called her “Lalla”. In addition, Helen leaves behind her goddaughter Lori Ciarmella; her best friend Paula Ciarmella; Jim Ciarmella (wife Tara, children Grace and Halle); her best friend Sandra Kucharski of Terryville, CT; dear friend Mary Hicks of Melrose, MA; Chapulis nieces and nephews including John (wife Christina, children Matthew and Scott), Jan and Bill; long-time family friends including Babs Trincellito, Gina Pellegri, Elizabeth Stark, Pam Murphy, Karen Prince, Robert Trincellito, Richard Gravlin, Melissa Gravlin and Tammy Kornbrust (husband Eric); special Cape Cod friends Tom and Dorota Bretta. She leaves behind many more family members and dear friends.

Being born on Christmas Eve, Helen loved everything to do with Christmas; especially her extensive ornament collection and tree.  She cherished her Christmas tree, took pride in it’s wonder and made an annual event of setting it up and spending hours decorating it.  She also enjoyed collecting porcelain dolls, teddy bears, Victorian-era antiques, brides’ baskets, paintings of Victorian ladies, various items in which she found beauty and objects she could share with children as they were growing up.  She always found joy from the children in her life and loved sharing trinkets and treats with them all.  Helen especially enjoyed her Chanel No. 5 perfume and dressing up to go out and enjoy a meal with family and friends.  She was active in the Terryville community, one which she and her husband Peter made their home for over 40 years.  She would go door to door each year collecting donations for the Plymouth Volunteer Ambulance Corps.  Helen also worked during election times and spent the entire day tending to electoral duties at the East Main Street School.  She was instrumental in the fundraising auctions organized and held for the youth ministry group of the Immaculate Conception Church (Terryville), a parish of which she was a longtime member.  She and Tim spent many a Halloween, in the center of Litchfield, giving away giant candy bars to all the children celebrating the holiday.  They would stand in front of The Village Restaurant so that Helen could enjoy all of the children’s excitement, costumes and visits.  As a thank you for the treats, many would respond with a dance, joke or skit; of which Helen enjoyed every single one with smiles and laughter.  She was both the Vice President and Secretary of the family-run business, Tim’s Inc. Auctions.  She would be at every auction, from beginning to end, and well after that.  She would greet everyone with a warm welcome and tend to people’s needs for signing in, checking out and answering inquiries with her wealth of antique and auction knowledge.  She knew attendees’ names, including their family members and especially their children.  She had a smile for all and wasn’t shy about welcoming patrons with her donation jar for St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, in memory of Peter W. Chapulis. In exchange for adding to it, a smiley face sticker was always granted.  (Tim, and the business, will continue the tradition and now collect donations for St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital in memory of both Peter W. and Helen C. Chapulis.)  Helen loved nature, flowers, the beach and bird watching.  She enjoyed all of the animals and wildlife that would come to visit their yard in Litchfield ~ including turkeys, bears, bobcats and deer.  She loved going to the casino, especially when she could take her chances at the Wheel of Fortune game.  Helen enjoyed special celebrations at the Red Lion Inn and time on Cape Cod during the summer months.

The family would like to extend a heartfelt thank you to her personal physician, Dr. Margaret Rush, from Bristol, CT.  The Scott Funeral Home of Terryville, CT will be assisting Helen’s family with arrangements (scottfuneralhomeinc.com).

Please join us for a Celebration of Life for Helen C. Chapulis on Saturday, May 1, 2021 at 12 noon.  Immaculate Conception Church, 170 Main Street, Terryville, CT 06786

In lieu of flowers, donations can be made, in memory of Helen C. Chapulis, to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital (stjude.org).

Obituary – Scott Funeral Home, Terryville, CT

Call Tim Chapulis, Auctioneer, 860-459-0964

IN MEMORIAM PETER W. CHAPULIS

Peter W. Chapulis

May 8th, 1928 – December 21st, 2005 We lost our loving husband, father, and dear friend to the world on December 21st, 2005

Tim and Peter

Antiques And The Arts Weekly Story

Respected Figure in Antiques, Auction Community – LITCHFIELD, CONN. – Well known and highly respected, Peter W. Chapulis, 77, of Northfield Road, former Terryville resident, husband of Helen (Taylor) Chapulis, died December 21 at St Francis Hospital in Hartford after suffering a heart attack.

Peter was vice president of Tim’s Inc Auctions of Bristol, Conn., and had worked as a driving force behind the auction company for the 26 years it has been in existence.

Affectionately known by friends as “The Red Baron,” often shortened to simply “The Baron,” Peter was given the name after spending many years behind the wheel of the large red truck that the auction company uses to transport antiques to its auctions.

Peter was born May 8, 1928, in Bristol, son of the late William and Anna (Karoti) Chapulis. He was a resident of Terryville most of his life before moving to Litchfield seven years ago. He was a communicant of the Immaculate Conception Church, a member of the Plymouth Democratic Town Committee, a lifetime member of the Lock Museum of America, Terryville, and he supported a wide variety local and national nonprofit community-oriented charities and organizations. He was very active in the community, loved politics and attended President Bill Clinton’s 1996 inaugural in Washington, D.C. During the summer, Peter and his family loved to vacation on Cape Cod.

Peter began in the antiques business more than 35 years ago, door-knocking and picking local barns to find fresh-to-the-market materials. Over the years he discovered many “great finds” and sold to a host of major dealers throughout the region.

“He always added oxygen to the room that he was in,” stated his son and business partner Tim. “He had a wealth of knowledge and he was always willing to share that with everyone.”

Peter was a grand spokesman for not only our his own auction house, but for all auction houses and the antiques industry in general, always looking for ways to get new people interested in collecting.

He also had a knack for treating everyone the same and making them feel important, whether they were consigning to him or simply discussing their own valuable antiques, an expensive trinket, or even the smallest of items.

In his typical full stride and living life to the fullest, Peter had just completed an auction at the Terryville Congregational Church on Friday evening, an estate sale on Sunday and was enjoying himself at one of Connecticut’s casinos in the following days when he was stricken. The Chapulis family also hosted their annual Christmas party on that Saturday of the same weekend where Peter and his family entertained over 100 guests. His presence will be missed by all of Tim’s loyal customers and friends alike.

Besides his wife of 48 years and his son, he leaves a sister, Regina Serapilia of Bristol; godchildren, Rachel Guillet and John Chapulis; and an extended family and friends in Cape Cod, New York, Boston, MA and in the local community. He was also predeceased by a brother, John.

The Chapulis family would like to say a sincere thank you for all the cards, emails, phone calls and kind words we have received since Peter’s passing. In addition a special thank you to those of you who participated and attended in the memorial services held on Saturday Jan. 7th , 2006.

Memorial donations in Peter’s memory may be made to:
The Lyceum Building Fund, 21 Maple Street, Terryville CT 06787

Tim’s Inc. is proud to announce that we have collected $73,040.00 in donations for St. Jude Children‘s Research Hospital In Memory of Peter W. Chapulis.

Tim & mother Helen Chapulis thank everyone for their contributions in memory of Peter W. Chapulis.

In Memoriam – Robert Sahl

Robert Sahl was a leading Real Estate Broker who had the foresight to help family’s dispose of their loved ones real estate at auction and was the driving force in the profession. Tim’s Inc., Tim Chapulis Auctioneer, was the auctioneer hired for all his real estate auctions.

Litchfield Real Estate Auctions, Mary Helen Levine, has taken over that same philosophy. Contact Mary Helen Levine at Litchfield Real Estate Auctions, LLC for more information.

On Thursday Morning January 10, 2008, Real Estate Broker Robert Sahl Passed Away.
He was a great friend & Real Estate Broker for many years. He will be greatly missed by all.

Obituary (From the Waterbury Republican) – Robert Sahl ,Avid car collector LITCHFIELD. Robert Sahl, 64, beloved husband of Sharon Sahl, father of Rebecca Sherman of Litchfield and Amanda Sahl of Washington, D.C., died Jan. 10, 2008, at Waterbury Hospital. 

He was also the proud grandfather of Kaya Sherman of Litchfield. Bob was born Jan. 29, 1943, in Stamford, where he graduated from Stamford High School.

He received a degree in accounting from the University of Connecticut and was a real estate investor. An avid car collector, he was a past president of the Horseless Carriage Club of America. Bob was known and loved for his wry sense of humor and zest for life.

In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to the American Heart Association, 8 Brookside Drive, Wallingford 06492; or Litchfield Volunteer Ambulance Association, P.O. Box 651, Litchfield 06759.