Laura Charlotte Haggis

Glastonbury - On June 24, 2013, Laura Charlotte (Kohl) Haggis, 90, joined her husband, William Clifford Haggis, while surrounded by her loving family.

Charlotte was born in Norwood, Mass., on March 2, 1923, to Laura Elizabeth (Olson) and Herbert Ernest Kohl. She was termed a "dirty baby" as she was born in the back seat of a taxicab. She grew up in Westwood, attended Westwood schools, and was the May Day Queen of her eighth grade class. She attended Dedham High School for three years, but then transferred to the brand new Westwood High for her senior year. She was the spelling champion and editor/founder of the Westwood High newspaper, the "Nahatan News". Charlotte and Bill attended each other's proms. Charlotte graduated, with honors in 1941. The 1941 graduating class, originally having 13 members, still meets regularly in Massachusetts.

Charlotte attended the Fisher Business School on Beacon Street in Boston, graduating in 1943, with her Gold Key. She became a member of the Alpha Iota Sorority and was vice chairman of the Gamma Sigma Chapter of the Honorary Businesswomen's Sorority. In 1943, the two lovebirds became engaged, but decided to wait until Bill returned from his military duty before being married. In the meantime, Charlotte worked at Hale & Dorr Attorneys in Boston as a legal secretary. It was required that she wear her hat and white gloves simply to walk to the elevator to greet a client.

Charlotte and Bill were married on June 22, 1946, at the Westwood First Baptist Church, followed by a honeymoon at the Hotel Victoria in New York.

Charlotte and Bill lived in Hartford and Coventry, before settling in Bolton for 10 years. They then moved to Glastonbury in 1961, where Charlotte has lived ever since. Charlotte was very active in many organizations and held offices in most.

She thoroughly enjoyed traveling and visited over 50 countries, often as a member of the Friendship Force, the unofficial ambassadors of the U.S. Charlotte felt that traveling was a form of education, not a vacation, and felt it was important to learn about different people and cultures. She was a longtime member of the EAA, the Circle 8 Square Dancing Club, and YWCA. She also raised several litters of dachshund puppies.

She especially loved her church, First Church of Christ Scientist in Manchester, where she faithfully attended both Sunday and Wednesday services. Once closed, she then attended the Glastonbury branch, where she was warmly welcomed. On the board of Rock Haven, a Christian Science retirement village in Glastonbury, she attended meetings regularly and enjoyed it immensely. As a devoted member, too, of The Mother Church, she attended meetings in Boston every year. She worked hard to promote her faith as she distributed Christian Science books to many libraries in Connecticut and Massachusetts.

She will be dearly missed by her son, William E. "Ted" Haggis of Glastonbury; her daughters, Claire and son-in-law, Michael Krieger, of Gales Ferry, and Diane and son-in-law, Kevin Albanese, of Ledyard; as well as her four precious grandchildren, Alicia Krieger, Leah Krieger, Tracy Albanese, and Brian Albanese. She will also be missed by her sister-in-law, Linda Kohl; nieces, Sharon Oehmig, Laurie Muniz, and Gail Cutler; as well as countless other family members and friends, each one of whom she cherished.

Charlotte will be gathered in love by her husband, Bill Haggis; her brother, Ernest A. Kohl; her mother and father, Laura and Herbert Kohl; her sister-in-law, Rose and Walter MacIlvain; nephew, Jimmy MacIlvain; and grand-niece, Ellie Muniz.

Please remember Charlotte by passing on a kind word or deed, by making a donation to Upson Rock Haven, 349 Hubbard St., Glastonbury, CT 06033, Habitat for Humanity, 108 Centre St., Bath, ME 04530, or to Fidelco Guide Dogs, her favorite animal charity, 103 Old Iron Ore Road, Bloomfield, CT 06002.

Family and friends are welcome to gather from 2 to 3 p.m. on Thursday, June 27, at Glastonbury Funeral Home, 450 New London Tnpk., Glastonbury, followed by a celebration remembering her life at 3 p.m. A private burial will be in Westwood Cemetery, Westwood, Mass.

To leave an online condolence, please visit www.glastonburyfuneral.com