Holly E. HASSETT

HASSETT, Holly E.


Holly E. Hassett, 52, of Harwinton, completed her life peacefully on Valentine's Day, February 14, 2013 after a hard-fought battle with cancer. Holly grew up in Fairhaven, MA and was born to Diane B. (Ramsbotham) Hassett and the late David J. Hassett. She is survived by her loving husband Rev. J. Richard Fowler and daughter Emma E. Fowler; her adoring stepsons Mark B. Fowler and his wife Anna and their daughter Zofia, and James C. (Jamie) Fowler and his wife Amanda and children Carly and Jack Meyer and Lily and Leo Fowler. Holly is also survived by her brother Todd K. Hassett and his family, her twin sister Beth M. Hassett-Sipple and her family, and many cherished friends. Holly graduated magna cum laude from Emmanuel College in Boston in 1982 with a BA in Music Therapy (RMT). She earned her first master's degree from Antioch University of New England in 1987 in Counseling Psychology (LPC), and her second MA in Oral Traditions from the Graduate Institute of Bethany, CT in 2009. She worked for 25 years as a behavioral health professional, most recently as an Asst. Program Director at Advanced Behavioral Health in Middletown, CT. Holly was a wonderful wife, mother, grandmother, daughter, sister, and friend; she was a woman of great wisdom, vision, principle, and practice. She loved quilting, cross-stitching, gardening, and being by the ocean, and was a generous, thoughtful, and kind person. An avid reader, Holly had a strong fondness for books, poetry, and storytelling. She took delight in the little treasures of nature, looking at clouds and admiring the crookedness of trees. Most recently, in May, she went to Florida to swim with manatees, one of the highlights of her life, along with watching her daughter graduate from university. The family cat Blake, her "chemotherapy buddy", was always by her side throughout cancer treatment, and was a comfort to her always. She would like to thank the Bristol Hospital staff, from whom she received exceptional care, notably Sapna Khubchandani, MD and Candy Willig, RN of the Cancer Care Center. She would also like to thank her doctor from the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Matthew Davids, MD. Most of all, she would like everyone to know how grateful she was for having such good friends.
A memorial celebration will be held in her honor at Wisdom House (229 E Litchfield Rd, Litchfield, CT) at 1 p.m. on March 3, 2013. In lieu of flowers, Holly asked that donations be made to the Bristol Hospital Cancer Care Center (41 Brewster Rd., Bristol, CT 06011-0944), Dana Farber Cancer Institute (450 Brookline Ave., Boston, MA 02215), Partners In Health (PO Box 996 Frederick, MD 21705-9942), or to the Harwinton Public Library (80 Bentley Dr., Harwinton, CT 06791). She also asked for people to donate blood, platelets, and register to become a bone marrow/stem cell donor if they are able to do so.