Obituary of Jeannette Rand

5/28/1931 – 3/3/2017 Jeannette (Chapman) Rand passed away peacefully on Friday, March 3, 2017 surrounded by her family. She had been courageously battling an illness for about 5 years. Jeannette was a devoted and loving mother, daughter, sister, aunt and friend. She touched so many lives and could always be found caring for a friend or family member. She was a single parent and raised 2 children. While raising her children Jeannette would do housework with a little one in tow. After getting her youngest in school she went to work for Chesebrough Ponds where she worked for over 27 years. During many of those years she worked 2 and sometimes 3 jobs to support her family. She worked many years as a caretaker staying nights for people in need. Even after her retirement from Chesebrough Ponds in 1996 she continued to work doing housework and caring for elderly people. Despite her diminutive size she was extremely strong and had a huge heart. Many family and friends considered her a hero given all the obstacles she had been able to overcome throughout her life. She was so caring and selfless; she would offer her last dollar as well as her help to someone in need. She loved gardening, travelling, and especially recently, watching birds out her kitchen picture window. She came from a large family and was always the one that took care of everyone else. She was pre-deceased by her father Alfred Chapman, her mother Allison (Molyneux) Chapman, her half-brother Elwood (Sonny) Chapman, Jr., her brothers Alfred (Bud) Chapman, Robert Chapman, and John Chapman. She is survived by her son Barry Rand and his wife Natalie, her daughter Natalie Wellmaker and her husband Lonnie, as well as, her long-time companion Charles Messner, her sister Ruth LeMaire, her brother Charles Chapman and his wife Geraldine, and her half-sisters Jane Sypher and her husband Bill, and Marie Stevens and her husband David. She also is survived by 5 grandchildren, Jason Rand and his wife Julia, Kelly Mastello and her husband Anthony, Nicole Stamey and her husband Casey, Noah Wellmaker and Allison Wellmaker; 9 great-grandchildren, Natalie Mastello, Nikolas Mastello, Alexa Mastello, Kai Mastello, Zi Mastello, Pace Mastello, Olivia Rand, Evelynn Little, and Harley Stamey; and several nieces and nephews. A memorial visitation will be held from 5:00pm to 7:00pm on Wednesday, March 8, 2017 with a short service beginning at 5:00pm at Robinson, Wright, and Weymer Funeral Home, 34 Main Street, Centerbrook. There will also be a graveside service at 11:00am on Thursday, March 9, 2017 at Riverside Cemetery, Sheffield Street, Old Saybrook.