An accomplished artist, nurse, and teacher, Vilma passed away peacefully in the company of family in Pueblo West, Colorado on September 7, 2012.  She is survived by her husband of 42 years, Roger Connor Jr., and their six children: Debra (Lebel) and her husband Ted Kaczmar of Monterey, CA; Roger Connor III, of Monterey, CA; Richard Lebel and his wife Lana of Pueblo West, CO; Kevin Connor and his wife Regina of Eastham, MA; Lori (Lebel) and her husband David Dietsch of Kensington, CT;   Mark Connor and his wife Marta Simidtchieva of Glen Carbon, IL, and 11 grandchildren. The youngest of five daughters born to Frank and Mary Petronio of Waterville, CT, Vilma is survived by her loving sister, Anna Scanlon, of Oakville, CT.  She was formerly married to the late Alfred Lebel of Waterbury, CT.

Vilma was a registered nurse and instructor of nursing at Waterbury Hospital for many years before becoming a middle school science teacher in Wolcott, CT and later a science and art teacher at Sacred Heart School in Salinas, CA. She earned a Masters Degree in Science from Southern Connecticut State University and earned another sixty college credits in fine arts, her passion. Notably, during the 1970s, she was among the first to teach comprehensive sex education and the first to start a Certified Nursing Assistant program in a public school system.  

Retirement allowed Vilma, an avid bridge player, to achieve the rank of Life Master.  More importantly, retirement allowed Vilma time to concentrate on her art, holding shows and exhibiting her juried paintings in galleries in San Francisco, Mendocino, Santa Barbara, Carmel, and Monterey, CA.  Ever the visionary, her intellectual mind and artistic soul were devoted to her family, especially her grandchildren: Lauren and Erica Kaczmar; Roger Connor IV; David and Eric Dietsch; Corey and Kristen Connor; Olivia and Alec Lebel; and Sophia and Dylan Connor.