Obituary for Loretta Barry Tanner
Loretta Tanner
Longtime Warren Resident
Loretta Tanner, a longtime Warren resident, passed away peacefully on December 6, 2018 at Brandywine Assisted Living. Her beloved husband, Willis H. Tanner, died in 1992.
She was born September 18, 1914 in Waterbury, the daughter of Anna (Masterson) and James Barry. She graduated from St. Mary’s High School and Central Connecticut State Teacher’s College. She earned her Master’s Degree in Education at UCONN. In 1946, she married Willis Tanner and together they would celebrate 46 years of marriage.
Loretta was a devoted teacher who touched many young lives. In the early years she taught in Warren, Bethany, Wolcott and Waterbury. She spent 29 years in the Litchfield School System at the Center School and Bantam School, before retiring in 1980. Loretta loved her students and always worked beyond the school day to ensure that her students achieved academic success. Her love of books and reading was passed on to her children, grandchildren and many students during her 39 year career.
Loretta was deeply devoted to her adopted town of Warren. She felt a deep responsibility to her community and served as “unofficial” secretary to her husband who was First Selectman for more than 30 years. She felt great pride when her first grandson was named Christopher Warren.
She is survived by a daughter, Pat and her husband, John Downes, of Sterling, MA; a son, Barry and his wife, Monique, of Doylestown, PA; her sisters: Marge Golger of Fairfield, and Eileen Wilke of Cheshire; 6 grandchildren; Kelly Tanner, Christopher Downes, Jennifer Tanner Brower, Carolynne Downes Noel, Ryan Curtiss and Sean Curtiss; 7 great-grandchildren: Emily, Dylan, Loa, Evan, Asher, Paul and Louis. A brother, Jimmy; a sister, Anne Balint; and a daughter, Kathryn Curtiss predeceased her.
The family would like to thank the people who took care of her at Brandywine Assisted Living for many years and also the people at VNA Northwest. A special thank you is extended to her devoted, longtime, personal aide, Judy Clark who lovingly cared for her for many years.
Loretta will be remembered most for her love of family, ever present smile and cheery personality. She will be dearly missed.
Family and friends may visit with Loretta’s family on Monday, Dec. 10, 2018 from 9 a.m. to 10:30 a.m. at Rowe Funeral Home, 283 Torrington Road, Litchfield. A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at 11 a.m. at St Anthony of Padua Church, 49 South Street, Litchfield. Loretta will be laid to rest alongside her beloved husband and daughter in the Warren Cemetery.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests that memorial donations, in her memory, be made to Warren Public Library, 15 Sackett Hill Road, Warren, CT 06754; Warren Volunteer Fire Co., 11 Sackett Hill Road; The Warren Historical Society, 50 Cemetery Road; or The Warren Land Trust, 50 Cemetery Road.
Longtime Warren Resident
Loretta Tanner, a longtime Warren resident, passed away peacefully on December 6, 2018 at Brandywine Assisted Living. Her beloved husband, Willis H. Tanner, died in 1992.
She was born September 18, 1914 in Waterbury, the daughter of Anna (Masterson) and James Barry. She graduated from St. Mary’s High School and Central Connecticut State Teacher’s College. She earned her Master’s Degree in Education at UCONN. In 1946, she married Willis Tanner and together they would celebrate 46 years of marriage.
Loretta was a devoted teacher who touched many young lives. In the early years she taught in Warren, Bethany, Wolcott and Waterbury. She spent 29 years in the Litchfield School System at the Center School and Bantam School, before retiring in 1980. Loretta loved her students and always worked beyond the school day to ensure that her students achieved academic success. Her love of books and reading was passed on to her children, grandchildren and many students during her 39 year career.
Loretta was deeply devoted to her adopted town of Warren. She felt a deep responsibility to her community and served as “unofficial” secretary to her husband who was First Selectman for more than 30 years. She felt great pride when her first grandson was named Christopher Warren.
She is survived by a daughter, Pat and her husband, John Downes, of Sterling, MA; a son, Barry and his wife, Monique, of Doylestown, PA; her sisters: Marge Golger of Fairfield, and Eileen Wilke of Cheshire; 6 grandchildren; Kelly Tanner, Christopher Downes, Jennifer Tanner Brower, Carolynne Downes Noel, Ryan Curtiss and Sean Curtiss; 7 great-grandchildren: Emily, Dylan, Loa, Evan, Asher, Paul and Louis. A brother, Jimmy; a sister, Anne Balint; and a daughter, Kathryn Curtiss predeceased her.
The family would like to thank the people who took care of her at Brandywine Assisted Living for many years and also the people at VNA Northwest. A special thank you is extended to her devoted, longtime, personal aide, Judy Clark who lovingly cared for her for many years.
Loretta will be remembered most for her love of family, ever present smile and cheery personality. She will be dearly missed.
Family and friends may visit with Loretta’s family on Monday, Dec. 10, 2018 from 9 a.m. to 10:30 a.m. at Rowe Funeral Home, 283 Torrington Road, Litchfield. A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at 11 a.m. at St Anthony of Padua Church, 49 South Street, Litchfield. Loretta will be laid to rest alongside her beloved husband and daughter in the Warren Cemetery.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests that memorial donations, in her memory, be made to Warren Public Library, 15 Sackett Hill Road, Warren, CT 06754; Warren Volunteer Fire Co., 11 Sackett Hill Road; The Warren Historical Society, 50 Cemetery Road; or The Warren Land Trust, 50 Cemetery Road.