Harriett Winslow

BARRE – Harriett Winslow passed away peacefully at home with her daughters by her side on Tuesday, July 11, 2017.

She was born Harriett Whitney Blake to Howard and Gertrude Blake in Hartford, CT in 1920, the year that women won the vote. She attended Noah Webster School and Hartford High School.

On Valentine’s Day in 1942, she married Joseph Francis Winslow, a USN Petty Officer and Hartford firefighter. He died just after their 60 ^th wedding anniversary.

Harriett was one of the first computer keypunch operators at IBM in Hartford. She also enjoyed many years working at G. Fox & Co. department store. When Joe retired they fulfilled a life-long wish to move to “the beach”. Harriett worked at Cramer Controls, Ponds and Pratt-Read on the Connecticut shore. She retired to her part-time dream job at Old Saybrook Antiques. From a very young age, she loved and was knowledgeable about antiques and enjoyed many interesting conversations with her customers.

An artist in everything she did, Harriett made quilts, hooked rugs, caned chairs, and smocked baby clothes for her granddaughter. She turned a small Cape Cod house in Hartford and a beachfront cottage in Westbrook into charming homes that her children and grandchildren loved to visit. She loved going to Boston to visit her daughter Susan and to Vermont to visit her daughter Diane and her family.

In 2002 Harriett moved to Wildersburg Common in Barre, VT to be near her two daughters. She spent winter months in Florida with Diane and Fred and her favorite place in summer was the porch of their Miles Pond camp. With them she traveled all over the country to see her grandson Christopher perform in many theatre productions. In Vermont she loved to attend the dance performances of her granddaughter Abby and more recently her great-granddaughter Molly. She always said her great-grandson Myles gave the best hugs. She enjoyed touring several of the National Parks with her Park Ranger grandson Andrew, and treasured the letters and photographs he sent. An insatiable reader and Red Sox fan, she kept up with current events and was a Bernie Sanders supporter.

Harriett’s door was always open and she was warm and welcoming to everyone. She leaves many good friends in Vermont, especially her neighbor, Joan Sabens, Jim and Jeannie Milne, and all the wonderful volunteers at Meals on Wheels. She valued her friendships with Deb Grandbois of Barre, VT and Pat and Bob Husted of Westbrook, CT and Chick and Sandie Avery of Old Saybrook, CT.

She is survived by her daughter Diane Swan and her husband, Fred Swan of Barre; and her daughter Susan Winslow also of Barre. She leaves her beloved grandchildren Christopher Swan of New York City, NY, Abigail Pepin and her husband, Keith Pepin of Middlesex, VT, and Andrew Swan of Las Vegas, NV; her great-grandchildren Molly and Myles Pepin of Middlesex, VT; her devoted nieces Claire Picone of Basking Ridge, NJ, Mary Lynn Curti (Tony) of Manchester, CT; and Julie Morosani (Reto) of Bolton, CT; and her cousins Margie Koboski (Karl) and Phyllis Allen of Seneca, NC.

Harriett was predeceased by her parents, her brother James Blake, her husband Joseph Winslow, and her nephew Tom Picone.

When asked Harriett always said she had a wonderful life. Her last words to anyone she loved and to those who loved her would be “thank you” and “take care of yourself.”

Her daughters want to thank the tireless people at Hospice, especially Kay and Amanda, for their wisdom, comfort and kindness, and Brenda Lane who lovingly cared for us and our mother in her last hours.

Family and friends may call on Wednesday, July 19, 2017 from 6:00 to 8:00 p.m. at the Hooker and Whitcomb Funeral Home, 7 Academy Street, Barre.

The Mass of Christian Burial to honor Harriett’s life will be held on Monday, August 7, 2017 at 3:30 p.m. in St. Monica Catholic Church in Barre.

Contributions in Harriett’s memory may be made to the Central Vermont Council on Aging Meals on Wheels Program, 59 N. Main Street, Suite 200, Barre, VT 05641 or to Central Vermont Home Health and Hospice, 600 Granger Road, Barre, VT 05641.