Jean Alice Denton

1925 - 2013

Jean Alice (Carlton) Denton, 88, cherished wife of Cleveland R. Denton, died peacefully in her sleep on December 25, 2013, at home in West Hartford. Jean was born November 30, 1925, in Rutland, Vermont, the daughter of Clarence and Margaret (Pennell) Carlton, and attended school in Hartford, Vermont, Melrose, Massachusetts and Burlington, Vermont, and graduated Phi Beta Kappa from the University of Vermont with a degree in mathematics. She and Cleve were married on June 18, 1947 in Burlington, VT and lived in Michigan and Ohio before returning to New England to settle in West Hartford in 1954. Jean was a member and active alumna of Delta Delta Delta sorority, and was a faithful member of First Baptist Church of West Hartford, and was very involved with Hartford Seminary and American Baptist organizations at the local, national, and international level for many years. Jean always put others' needs before her own, and this quality was evident to all those who knew her, as well as to those directly touched by her extensive volunteer service with local programs such as Meals on Wheels and Loaves and Fishes. She was a thoughtful and caring wife, mother and grandmother. The hand-knit sweaters and baby blankets lovingly created for her grandchildren are destined to become treasured family heirlooms passed down to future generations. Jean and Cleve truly enjoyed spending time with each other and as a family. Throughout their 66-year marriage, they especially enjoyed traveling. A highlight of their many adventures was a European tour with their children, complete with an Atlantic Ocean crossing aboard the S.S. France in 1967. Jean brought her talents for photography and her interest in beautiful scenery, birds and flowers together for many wonderful slide-show presentations to family and friends. Jean is survived by her beloved husband, Cleve, and their children, Stephanie J. Cuzzocreo and her husband Roy of Orange, Carol D. Arrowsmith and her husband Ted of Broad Brook, and Robert W. Denton and his wife Kimberly of Framingham, MA, grandchildren, Matthew, David, Daniel and Brian Cuzzocreo, and Tyler and Nathan Arrowsmith, great-grandson, Matthew Drolett, and many extended family members and dear friends. She was predeceased by her siblings, Charles M. Carlton and Harriet E. (Carlton) Bridges. Jean's family sincerely thanks her wonderful Amy's Angels caregiving team, the nursing staff at The McAuley, the entire McLean Hospice and Home Care team, and her physicians for their dedicated and compassionate care. A memorial service in celebration of Jean's life will be held on Saturday, February 1, 2014 at 11:00 a.m. at First Baptist Church of West Hartford, 90 North Main Street. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to The University of Vermont Foundation, 411 Main St., Burlington, VT 05401, or to the Memorial Gifts Fund, First Baptist Church of West Hartford, 90 North Main St., West Hartford, CT 06107. For directions and online condolences, please visit www.taylorandmodeen.com.