Lillian Prakelt Goss of Hanover, New Hampshire, a former Westport resident, died Aug. 10 in Norwalk. She was 86. She was the mother of former Westport First Selectman Diane Goss Farrell.
Lillian Goss: former Westport teacher. Contributed photo
She was born on March 20, 1933 and was the daughter of Gerhard Arthur Prakelt, and Lillian Lawson. On Sept. 11, 1954, she married Donald Carpenter Goss in Townshend, Vermont, her lifelong husband for 57 years.
Lillian attended Long Branch New Jersey High School and graduated from Cushing Academy, a preparatory school in Ashburnham, Massachusetts in 1951. She was a dedicated alumna of Cushing Academy and served as chair of the Alumni Fund. In 1992, she accepted the position of trustee of Cushing Academy.
She attended Wheelock College in Brookline, Massachusetts and then transferred to Mills College in New York City where she received a Bachelor of Science degree in education in 1956. She continued her education at Fairfield University, earning a Master’s degree in special education in 1981.
While she lived in Westport for 28 years, she was active in the PTA at the Burr Farms School. She also served as president of the Wheelock College Club of Southern Connecticut.
As an active member of Greens Farms Congregational Church she taught Sunday school and served on the education committee for many years. From 1973 to 1985 she worked in the Westport Public School District as an elementary school teacher at Riverview Kindergarten, Greens Farms, and Kings Highway Elementary Schools.
For over 50 years, she spent her summers at the family home on Block Island, Rhode Island. She was an avid tennis player and president of the Block Island Club.
In 1985 she and husband Don moved to Hanover, New Hampshire where she continued teaching for 16 years. Lillian worked as a master teacher/ mentor for the Stern Center for Language and Learning.
The life of Lillian Prakelt Goss exemplifies one of serving others. Through her dedication to her family, her church and to her teaching she shared the gifts of knowledge, faith, joy, hope and love to those who have been fortunate to walk the path of life together with her.
She is survived by her children, Diane Catherine Goss Farrell, Jonathan Carpenter Goss, Thomas Carpenter Goss, and Holly Elizabeth Goss Betts, her grandchildren, Hilary Ann Farrell Prosnitz. Margaret Carpenter Farrell, Nathaniel Carpenter Goss, Claire Erkins Goss, Ethan Carpenter Goss, Eli Hunkins Goss and her great-grand children David Carpenter Prosnitz, Sarah Lillian Prosnitz and Elizabeth Farrell Prosnitz.
A celebration of Lillian’s life will be held in Hanover, New Hampshire in the fall.
In lieu of flowers, the family suggests contributions be made in memory of Lillian Goss to Cushing Academy, 39 School St. Ashburnham, MA 01430.
