Wilda LaVerne Segar

Wilda "LaVerne" Segar of Windham, CT passed peacefully into the arms of God at Windham Hospital on May 21, 2022. She was born in New Haven, CT on May 16, 1931, the daughter of the late Earnest & Wilda "Billy" (Hunter) Leger who were performers called The Dancing Kennedy's and performed on the Keith A Circuit out of Boston.

She followed in her parents' and family members' footsteps to be crowned Miss New Haven Connecticut in 1951. Her love for music and her beautiful voice made her a gifted singer and performer, in which she sang at local charity events with celebrities such as Maury Amsterdam. She also loved to dance and went on to become a Radio City Rockette.

A graduate of the University of Connecticut with a Master’s degree in Mathematics, and an athlete and member of the UConn Basketball team, she went on to teach mathematics at Parish Hill Highschool. She then went on to work for The Willimantic Trust Bank for many years, and was also a bookkeeper and accountant right up until a month prior to her passing.

LaVerne married the love of her life, the late Donald W. Segar, on July 9, 1955 and they celebrated 43 wonderful years together. Donald was a well-known horseman and stock car driver. The couple built their home next to Donald's family and original homestead with his late parents Charles Sr. and Christine (Phillips) Segar. Donald and his Father Charlie, as he was referred to, and owned and operated Indian Hollow Stables where they raised show quality horses. LaVerne and Donald started a family on their horse farm, where they also started their own business together in 1972 called The WigWam Tack Shop. The WigWam grew to become one of the largest tack stores in New England. They also had travelling tack wagons and traveled with their family to horse shows, fairs, and other events selling goods from their store.

Verne, as she was also called, would pass time outside of work and the farm with her love for trail riding and camping out with the L&G riding club, in which she and her husband were long time members. They both enjoyed attending many events with the club such as Halloween parties, in which they both loved to dress up in the best costumes. Verne also loved playing bridge at her bridge club, going to UConn basketball games, swimming and enjoying her pool, and taking day trips with her family to various places including amusement parks. She even loved to ride the rollercoasters. Verne and Donald also liked to travel to many new places with friends including Hawaii and going on cruises.

After the closing of their family's tack store, Verne still continued to work and enjoyed assisting other seniors with their income taxes through AARP. She also worked part-time at Natchaug Hospital doing bookkeeping. After retiring at the age of 84, she continued to keep her brain sharp by doing bookkeeping and accounting for her family's horse business, Indian Hollow Stables, which is a third-generation family-run farm still being run by her daughter.

LaVerne will be remembered as a very beautiful, smart, strong, independent, and accomplished woman. She lived a very full life with no regrets and was very loved by all that knew her.

She is survived by her brother Robert Leger of Florida; her three children, Stacey Segar Carpenter and her husband Daniel of Windham, CT, Charles Segar Jr. and his wife Linda of Scotland, CT, and Donna Segar Page of Enfield, CT; her five grandchildren, Cody, Chase, Morgan, Emily and Ronnie; her three great-grandchildren, Madelyn, Aydin and Jordan; as well as numerous nieces, nephews, cousins, extended family and long-time friends.

There will be no calling hours, and a private celebration of life is set for a later date.

In lieu of flowers, LaVerne's wishes were for flowers or plants that could be planted around the farm in her memory. Monetary donations can be made to Indian Hollow Stables in her honor for the farm that she resided at for over 60 years to continue their rescue and rehabilitation program that LaVerne loved. The Cremation Society of New England has been entrusted with the final arrangements.  To leave a message of remembrance please visit: www.newenglandcremation.com

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