Carol Marie (Strachan) Brackett

APOLLO BEACH, Fla.- On Sunday, Dec. 22, 2013, Carol Marie (Strachan) Brackett, 87, died peacefully at home in her husband's arms surrounded by family and love.

Born in Milton, Mass. Aug. 17, 1926, she was a daughter of the late Douglas M. and Caroline (Ecay) Strachan. She had been a resident of Hyde Park, Mass., and West Haven, Conn. until moving to Wallingford in 1955, and Apollo Beach, Fla. in 1995. Mrs. Brackett was a member of the Yalesville United Methodist Church in Yalesville. Her devotion to her husband and family is a true testament to her strength which she demonstrated throughout her entire life. She loved to play the organ and was an accomplished crocheter, making beautiful heirloom pieces for all the family. Her home was always the gathering place for family and neighborhood get-togethers where all were welcomed and felt her love. She was a very wise woman who always shared a quote or saying, often referring to Luke 6:31 and John 13:34, or even reminding us that a "short pencil is better than a long memory". Her wisdom, strength and tenacity guided her through all aspects of her long and beautiful life.

She is survived by her loving husband of over 68 years, William R. Brackett, of Wallingford, and Apollo Beach, Fla.; son, William Brackett, Jr., and wife, Brenda, of Osterville, Mass.; her daughters, Susan (Brackett) Clark and husband, Jerome, of Richfield Springs, N.Y., June Brackett and husband, Jim Hart, and Beth (Brackett) Parcells and husband, Robert, all of Wallingford; and son-in-law, Edward Copeland, of Rocky Hill; her 11 grandchildren, Susan (Copeland) Burr and husband, Allan, Alicia (Clark) Mancarella and husband, Anthony, Michael Copeland and wife, Renee, Amy Brackett, Caroline (Fahey) McDowell and husband, Shawn, Jessica (Clark) Bratton and husband, Ronald, Erin (Fahey) Reig and husband, Dana, Joshua Clark and wife, Jennifer, William Parcells, Drew Brackett and Sarah Parcells; her 20 great-grandchildren, David, Emily, Ryan, Faith, Megan, Kristofer, Paige, Adam, Patrick, Bryan, Noah, Grace, Sarah, Rocco, Isabella, Sophia, Alyssa, Isabella, Mackenzie and Levi; and two great-great grandchildren, Autumn and Scarlett; her beloved sister and dear brothers-in-law, Pauline and John Potts, of Quincy, Mass., and Charles F. Brackett, of Harvard, Mass.; her sisters-in-law, Mrs. Warren (Mary) Brackett, of Mashpee, Mass., Mrs. Ruth (Brackett) Coste, of Harvard, Mass.; and many loving nieces and nephews. She was predeceased by her daughter, Ruth A. (Brackett) Copeland, of Durham; her sister, Janet Lee (Strachan) Ashworth and brother-in-law, Betram A. Ashworth, both of Wallingford; and her brother, Douglas M. Strachan, of Hyde Park, Mass.

Her family will receive relatives and friends in The Wallingford Funeral Home, 809 N. Main St. Ext., Wallingford, Sunday, Dec. 29, from 4 until 8 p.m. A funeral service will be held at the Yalesville United Methodist Church, 8 New Place St. Yalesville on Monday, Dec. 30, at 10 am. Interment will follow in the Walnut Grove Cemetery, 817 Old Colony Road in Meriden. In lieu of flowers, gifts in her memory may be sent to the National Ataxia Foundation 2600 Fernbrook Lane Suite 119 Minneapolis, MN 55447 www.ataxia.org , The Yalesville United Methodist Church 8 New Place St. Yalesville CT 06492, Calvary Lutheran Church 5309 U.S. Hwy 41N. Apollo Beach FL 33572, or LifePath Hospice 3725 Upper Creek Dr. Ruskin FL 33573.

www.wallingfordfh.com.