Advocate News Editor Derek Sawvell asked folks to comment on their fondest memories of Thelma Nopoulos and/or the Candy Kitchen. What follows are some of the responses:
* My husband and I had our first date there playing pool. Quite a few years ago, we stopped in for an ice cream soda (always were the best!) and when I told Thelma about our first date, she had to take our picture — Becky DeVore Collins
* When I was in Wilton elementary, if you got an "A" on your report card, you could take it to the Candy Kitchen and they would give you a one-dip ice cream cone for free. yummy! — Anita Hartley
* I haven't lived in Wilton since 1975. Although I would come home for visits, she always called me by my first name. Fast-forward 40-plus years, always stopping in to get my cherry Coke, Thelma would say, "cherry Coke?" Not only did she remember who I was, she got the order right. — Joyce Crumly Nerdig
* When we were kids, Betsy Mays, Zach Maine and myself would dress up in these chef costumes that were in the dance studio. We would go to the Candy Kitchen and ask for a job. Thelma and a George would give us free drinks! — Samantha Jo Norton
* My favorite memory comes from a summer when two teacher friends visited from Waterloo... Only Thelma was there... She said to us that she was out of bread and would we please watch the shop while she ran to get some. My Waterloo friends could hardly believe their ears. Then after Thelma was back and we were paying, I had my friends sign the guest book. Thelma was visiting with them about where they were from, etc. She commented that one of George's childhood/youth teachers lived there and the teacher was having a special birthday coming up. So Thelma asked the Waterloo gals if they would deliver flowers to this person. She gave them the name, address and $60 cash to purchase and deliver the flowers... I just said, "That's Thelma!" They did get the flowers, delivered them, and had a lovely conversation with George's teacher... — Connie Zeleny