September 2024

Jennifer Fredell Powers, age 67, passed away on September 23rd in Middletown after a very hard fought battle with ALS. Born on June 2nd, 1957 in Paris, France, Jennifer was known for her sweet, kind, and loving nature. Jennifer graduated from Portland High School in 1975 and furthered her education at Stone College. She dedicated over three decades to Northeast Utilities, and subsequently worked at First Light and Equipower, showcasing her commitment and expertise in her field. Beyond her professional life, Jennifer cherished countless summers at her Rhode Island beach house, clamming, boating, and relaxing by the pond with her sons Ryan and Nicholas, friends and family, but especially her beloved husband, Don, of which she was married to for 46 years. Her greatest pleasure in life was being a Gigi to her granddaughter Rhys, whom she absolutely adored. She loved spoiling her with new “surprises” whenever she would come to visit. An avid reader and cook, she found joy in the simple pleasures of life, as well as bringing people together whether it be for holiday dinners, Christmas parties, or inviting the neighborhood over for her famous clam chowder on the deck. Jennifer is survived by her husband Donald N. Powers; son, Ryan N. Powers; and granddaughter, Rhys C. Powers. She was preceded in death by her parents, Arthur I. and Virginia L. Fredell and her son Nicholas A. Powers. In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to the ALS Association in memory of Jennifer, honoring her compassionate spirit.

Funeral services will be held on Tuesday, October 8th at 11 a.m. in the Portland Memorial Funeral Home, 231 Main St., Portland. Friends may call at the funeral home on Monday, October 7th from 4 to 6 p.m. Burial will be private.

Marlyn Draghetti Hall, (“Sue”), 89, of Portland, CT and Cromwell, CT, died peacefully on September 23rd surrounded by family and her beloved husband, Richard (“Dick”) Hall. 

Born with remarkable artistic talent on August 3rd,1935 in Springfield, MA, she was the only child of the late Helen and Joseph Draghetti. Married 67 years, Sue and Dick were high school sweethearts at Agawam High and 1953’s star quarterback and Peanut Bowl Queen.

A 1957 graduate of Massachusetts College of Art in Boston, Sue earned a masters degree in art education from The University of Hartford in 1974. A popular art teacher, “Mrs. Hall” had a gentle teaching style and unwavering faith in her students’ potential. She retired in 1992 after 25 years in the Portland School System.

A prolific artist who worked in various mediums, her watercolors were accepted into the CT Watercolor Society. In 1969 her One-Woman Show hung in the Phoenix Mutual “Boat Building” in Hartford, CT. That same year she illustrated the book, The History of Portland Connecticut.

She loved working in watercolor as much as she loved her subjects: her grandchildren playing at the shore; her garden’s bounty of peonies, roses, irises; the red barn on her way home; a Chincoteague horse grazing; their adored pets; and landscapes from trips to Newfoundland, Maine and Vermont. In retirement she learned the art of early American decorative painting. Sue was an accomplished potter and Wesleyan Potters Key Member for 30 years. 

She was a member of the Portland Garden Club and CT Horticultural Society. She played tennis, down-hill skied and was a voracious reader her whole life. Sue and Dick’s mutual appreciation of antiques inspired The Spinning Wheel, their antique shop dealing in early American furniture and antiquities.

Sue’s greatest joy and achievement in life was her family. She was a proud and nurturing mother and devoted grandmother. Her brainchild “Camp Grandma Sue Grandpa Dick” was an annual 2-week summer retreat featuring pool antics, archery in the back field, crafts, and even once, ice cream sundaes for breakfast. Coloring books were banned, but art supplies were plentiful.

She is survived by the love of her life, Dick Hall, her daughters and their spouses, Kathleen Hall (Peter Marasco) of Victor, NY; Cynthia Hall Searight (Richard) of Fairfield, CT and grandchildren John Searight, Elizabeth Searight, Sarah Marasco; Nephews Daniel Aramini, Raymond Aramini, niece Nancy Francis (Robert), grand nephews Andrew Aramini, Samuel Francis and grand niece Caroline Aramini, and many treasured friends. 

Calling hours will be held from 5 to 7 pm on Friday, October 4th at Portland Memorial Funeral Home, 231 Main St., Portland. A Mass of Christian burial will be held on Saturday, October 5th at 11:30 a.m. in St. Mary’s Church, 45 Freestone Ave., Portland. Burial will be in the Swedish Cemetery, Portland.  A reception will be held afterwards at Terrazza Restaurant at Quarry Ridge Golf Course, 9 Rose Hill Rd., Portland CT. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to Wesleyan Potters, Attn: Scholarship Committee, 350 S. Main St., Middletown, CT 06457 or call 860-347-5925

Dennis Morin passed away September 10th in Auburn, ME after a long illness. Born in New London, CT May 10, 1965 to Claudette (Cote) and Romeo Morin. Dennis grew up in Westbrook, Connecticut and went to Westbrook Schools, graduating from Vinyl State Technical High School in 1984. He attended Norwich State Tech and graduated from University of Hartford with a BS in Mechanical Engineering in 1990. 

He worked in and out of his family’s concrete business Morin Concrete since he was young. Soon after he graduated, he went to work for Perini Corporation on the Baldwin Bridge Project in Old Saybrook, CT. He moved up to Massachusetts in 1993 where he worked for their estimating division bidding on large dams, tunnels, and bridges all over the United States. He was a bridge superintendent at Logan Airport on the first bridge connecting the Ted Williams Tunnel under Boston Harbor. He worked all over Eastern Massachusetts on many bridge projects specializing in concrete, survey rebar and post tensioning. He then went to work for Local 7 Ironworkers Trade Union preferring the technical side of construction. He moved back to Connecticut in 2000 and worked on miscellaneous building and CDOT bridges all over Connecticut in Local 424 Ironworkers Union out of New Haven.

Dennis loved anything to do with the outdoors and would often be found in his backyard in Portland, CT cutting wood and quadding. He also loved the beaches on Cape Cod and Rhode Island. He loved Northern Maine where he would travel at least once a year as a child to visit uncles, aunts and cousins on their farms.

Dennis leaves behind his amazing son John (Jack) Morin. Jack made Dennis a very proud and happy father. He also leaves his mother, Claudette Morin, brother Donald Morin of Harrison, ME, niece Jolene Cronan and her husband Justin of Westbrook, sister Karen Avery of Groton, nephews Kris Carr and Brooke Fowler of Westbrook and Brian Carr of Westbrook, brother Ken Morin and sons Ken Jr and Andrew, great nieces Kinsley, Emma , Kylie, Aubrey and Harley.  He leaves his former wife Maureen Donoghue Morin and her family; former wife Sheryl Morin and her daughters Katie and Bobbi Ann of Madison. He was predeceased by his father, Romeo Morin. Dennis also leaves his girl Gracie, his faithful golden retriever.

Calling hours will be held on Friday, September 27th from 5 to 7 p.m. at the Portland Funeral Home, 231 Main St., Portland, CT. A Mass of Christian burial will be held on Saturday, September 28th at 10:00 in St. Mary’s Church in Portland, CT. A private burial for family only will be held after the service.

It is with great sadness that we announce the passing of Patricia G. Peters on September 19th. She is survived by her daughters Susan Peters and partner Marcus Morgan, Sharon Peters and grandsons Sean Gibala and Matthew Gibala; her sister Margaret Kinnarney; sisters-in-law Maureen Condron and Jane Charette; many nieces and nephews and wonderful friends and neighbors. She was predeceased by her husband Edward J. Peters Jr., her parents Sherman Griswold and Elsie Stacciarini Griswold, her brothers-in-law Eugene Kinnarney, Paul Peters, Edward Condron, and Paul Charette , and her beloved 4-legged companion, Daisy.

Despite the many health challenges she faced in her later years, Mom was the definition of can-do. She was an avid knitter, card player, and loved sharing good times and laughs with her friends, family and neighbors. She loved her family dearly and was a fierce advocate and cheerleader, especially for her cherished grandsons Sean and Matthew. Her life was an example of tenacity and grace and she will be missed beyond measure.  

A Mass of Christian burial will be held on Tuesday, September 24th at 11 a.m. in St. Mary’s Church, Portland. Burial will be in the family plot in St. Mary’s Cemetery, Portland. Friends may call at the Portland Memorial Funeral Home, 231 Main St., Portland, on Tuesday, September 24th from 9:30 to 10:30 a.m.