Obituary of Jane Hanford Purcell

Jane Hanford Purcell, 91, died March 1, 2018 with her children by her side. She was born in Old Saybrook, CT on May 25, 1926, and lived in Old Saybrook for 87 years. She was the daughter of the late Stephen E. and C. Ethel Hart Hanford. Jane was predeceased by her beloved husband of more than 50 years, Robert F. Purcell, Sr. She was also predeceased by her sister, Virginia H. Palm and brother, Samuel B. Hanford, her daughter Carol Purcell Guglietti, her brother-in-law Everett Palm, and her sister-in-law Anne Mangan. She is survived by her son and daughter-in-law Robert and RoseMarie Purcell Jr. of Mount Joy, PA and her daughter Catherine Purcell of Old Saybrook, CT. She is also survived by her sister Edith Francis of Sun City Center, FL and sister-in-law Gladys Hanford of Old Saybrook. She leaves nieces, nephews and cousins to remember her with love. From her teens on, Jane was a member of the First Church of Christ, Congregational in Old Saybrook. In addition to working for Southern New England Telephone Company, she worked in the cafeteria at Old Saybrook Senior High School. Jane enjoyed spending time with and entertaining her family. She also enjoyed sewing, quilting, knitting and baking. She volunteered her time knitting premmie hats and booties as well as squares to be made into blankets. It brought her great joy to know these projects would help someone else. She also enjoyed travel and traveled to Alaska, Colorado, Florida, Bermuda, Canada, and numerous other places with Bob and later with her children. Her family would like to thank Aaron Manor and Beacon Hospice for their kind and loving care of Jane and her family. Visitation will be held on Friday, March 9, 2018 from 5-7 PM at Robinson, Wright & Weymer Funeral Home in Centerbrook, CT. A graveside service will be held at the Riverside Cemetery, Sheffield Street, Old Saybrook on Saturday, March 10, 2018 at 10:00 AM. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in Jane's name to the Shoreline Soup Kitchens & Pantries, P.O. Box 804, Essex, CT 06426 or the Old Saybrook Fire Company No.1, 310 Main Street, Old Saybrook, CT 06475. To share a memory of Jane or send a condolence to her family please visit www.rwwfh.com