May 2023

Alan L. MacDonald of Naples, FL and Portland, CT, formally of Glastonbury, CT, died peacefully surrounded by his family on Wednesday May 10, 2023. The only child of Dr. Alan L. MacDonald and Catherine O’Connor MacDonald, Alan was born on March 25, 1937 in New London, CT. Alan attended New London High School and The Choate School in Wallingford, CT and studied at Boston University and the University of Hartford working as an auditor until his retirement. He proudly served his country overseas as a member of the United States Air Force. Alan is survived by his wife of 60 years, Beverly Beach MacDonald whom he met while she was a student nurse and he was her patient at Lawrence & Memorial Hospital in New London, CT. They married in 1963, initially residing in Hartford, CT before moving with their young family to Glastonbury, CT in 1964. Alan is also survived by his three sons, Michael and his wife Lauren MacDonald of New Canaan, Eric MacDonald of Glastonbury and Kevin and his wife Stacey MacDonald of Glastonbury. Alan also leaves behind seven wonderful grandchildren, Lily, Sean, Charlotte, Karleigh, Kyle, Ryan and Braeden. He is also survived by two brothers-in-law, Douglas and his wife Margaret Beach of Glastonbury and Bruce Beach of Santa Monica, CA. Alan was predeceased by his son Stephen J. MacDonald. Alan had a special love and way with dogs, especially his dear Molly, who all sensed his kindness and returned their love. Alan was also a devout Boston Red Sox fan being loyal through the good times and bad. He enjoyed traveling the world with his wife, taking cruises to new and interesting places and meeting wonderful people. Alan lived a full life and will be remembered as a loving, caring and kind family man who enjoyed spending time with his family, golfing, camping and leading family beach excursions. Above all, Alan enjoyed spending precious time with his grandchildren who brought much joy to his life.

The funeral will be held on Tuesday, May 23rd, at 9 a.m. from the Portland Memorial Funeral Home, 231 Main St, Portland, followed by a Mass of Christian Burial in St. Mary’s Church at 10 a.m. Burial will be in the Holy Cross Cemetery, Glastonbury, with full military honors. Friends may call at the funeral home on Monday, May 22nd, from 5-7 p.m. 

Mary Elizabeth (D’Emanuele) Sienkiewicz, beloved widow of Joseph T. Sienkiewicz, left this life May 11th, 2023 at Middlesex Health Hospice, peacefully surrounded by her loving family. Mary was born in Middletown on May 26th, 1941 to Salvatore and Mary (Pillarella) D’Emanuele. She moved to Portland on Grove St. early on and attended St.Mary School, Portland High School, and the University of Hartford before becoming a bookkeeper in several places including Brownstone Pharmacy, Elmcrest and briefly, Middlesex Hospital Radiology before retirement to enjoy family and friends. She married the love of her life, Joe, in September 1961. They made their home in Portland for the 60 years they were together before Joe’s passing. Mary most recently lived at The Atrium in Portland, where she spent the last year happily walking with her friends, playing Setback and Canasta, and going to Bingo in Moodus. She missed going to the 

Casinos with Joe, but was able to enjoy a couple of trips there with her sons and grandchildren. She looked forward to Spa Day every year to relax and celebrate Mother’s Day and her birthday. Mary is survived by her children: Theresa Krauth, Joseph J. Sienkiewicz, Paul C. Sienkiewicz, Thomas P.Sienkiewicz and his wife Sheri (Slomkowski) Sienkiewicz , whom she loved as another daughter. She was Gramma Mary to five grandchildren:  Amy J. Krauth, Evan Gustafson, Alexandra J. Krauth, Edward J.Krauth, Beau T.Sienkiewicz, and Carli Sienkiewicz. She was Great Gramma and Godmother to Easton J.Gustafson. Brother-in-Law William Sienkiewicz remains as the last of Joe’s brothers. She leaves many beloved nieces, nephews and cousins. Her dear friends Janice and Richard Stanhope survive her to share their memories of wonderful times with all of us. There are so many lives she has touched; know that she loved everyone and that she will always be with us in spirit. She was predeceased by her parents, her sister Philomena (Joseph) DiMauro and brother Salvatore Jr. (Norma) D’Emanuele, her in-laws Raymond (Geraldine) and Edward (Patricia Sullivan) Sienkiewicz. All of her family on both sides have many members welcoming her to heaven this week. We are all saddened by her passing, but know that she is at peace with Pops and probably already having fun with all that are there with her. 

The funeral will be held on Tuesday, May 16th at 9 a.m. from the Portland Memorial Funeral Home, 231 Main St., Portland followed by a Mass of Christian Burial in St. Mary’s Church, Portland at 10 a.m. Burial will be in St. Mary's Cemetery, Portland. Friends may call at the funeral home on Monday, May 15th from 5 to 7 p.m.

       A mild-mannered family man and father of three, Jereme Charles Christensen is sorely missed by everyone whose life he touched. Although kind and gentle, he was brutal when playing board or card games with family and friends, and did all that he could to destroy his opponents. He loved a good New England IPA, and was often found sipping a Manhattan in his fedora. Jereme had never met a fancy chair he didn’t want to sit on. While he was a brilliant mathematician and mechanic, he never could find his car keys or wallet. Jereme loved escape rooms, and was incredible at solving puzzles that made no sense to anyone else. He was a total wizard with a Rubik's Cube, able to solve it in under two minutes no matter how much his wife tried to mess it up. 

Jereme grew up in Colorado, where he was a diehard fan of the Rockies, before moving to Connecticut and making Portland his home. A hard worker with a 12 year career at Eversource, Jereme prided himself on supporting his family and making sure his children had a happy and fulfilling childhood. He never missed cheering on his three adoring children, Penelope, Genevieve, and Roman, in any youth sports game they ever played in. 

Jereme was a proud subscriber to the Economist and would read it from cover to cover. He had a love for learning languages, and over the years took classes in French, Spanish, and Italian with his wife, Lauren. He was famous for belting out his own renditions of Billy Joel and Elton John tunes in the kitchen while making Sunday morning omelets. 

Jereme was a proud veteran of the U.S. Navy, serving as a submariner on the USS Tucson as a machinist mate. His time in the Navy left him with a couple of stories that he liked to tell frequently and repeatedly.

Jereme is predeceased and welcomed in heaven by his mother, Cathy Gentile, and brother, Justin Gentile. He is survived by his wife, Lauren, his children, Penelope (13), Genevieve (11), and Roman (10), his sister, Sylena Manes, her husband, Sean, and nephews, Aaron, Andrew, Sean, and Seth. He is also survived by his father, Charles Christensen, and two half-sisters, Gracie and Elisha Christensen. Jereme is loved and missed by his mother- and father-in-law, Nancy and Robert Behrens, and his brothers- and sisters-in-law, Gregory Gallo, Genevieve Meli, Emily Gallo, and Dennis Murphy, and his nephew and niece, Leonardo and Sabrina.

May Jereme’s soul rest in peace and his legacy live on.

A memorial service will be held on Saturday, May 13that 12 noon in the Portland Memorial Funeral Home, 231 Main St., Portland followed by military honors. Friends may call at the funeral on Saturday, May 13th from 10 a.m. until time of service.