East Lyme - Jean B. Storms, R.N., 86, died peacefully May 14, 2009, at her home at Crescent Point, Niantic.
A long-time Waterford resident, she was born in Bridgeport on Sept. 5, 1922, a daughter of the late Arthur H. and Verna A. (Osborne) Buttery and lived in Lime Rock for many years before moving to Waterford in 1945. She was a member of the first graduating class of Housatonic Valley Regional High School in Canaan, and earned a registered nursing degree from Bridgeport Hospital School of Nursing in 1945. She pursued her nursing career first at Seaside Sanatorium, then at Lawrence & Memorial Hospital, where she was a head nurse for almost 30 years before retiring in 1984.
She was the widow of LeRoy "Roy" Storms, who died in 1967.
Survivors include her children and their spouses, Suzan and Don Weller of Niantic, Peter and Betsy Storms of Waterford, Ann and Kirby Kloter of Old Saybrook, and Daniel and Jaye Storms of Niantic; her grandson, Owen Kloter of Hartford; and her sister, Norma Sposta of Hyannis, Mass. She is also survived by her sister-in-law, Joan Buttery of Boca Raton, Fla., numerous nieces and nephews; as well as two step-granddaughters and three step-great-grandsons.
She was predeceased by her brother, Robert Buttery.
Jean was known for her love of plants and flowers. She created beautiful gardens at her Waterford home and grew numerous houseplants in her sunroom. She enjoyed traveling to various public and private gardens with the Naturescapes group and acquired many rare and unusual plants on her trips. She and her dear friend Nilla Palmer created beautiful dried flower wreaths and floral crafts, many of which were donated to the Second Congregational Church Christmas Bazaar.
Her other great love was travel. She and her close friend and co-worker Miriam Shabunia spent a memorable three weeks in France, and also participated in numerous Elderhostel trips throughout the U.S. and Canada. She traveled extensively throughout the Northeast, visiting historical sites and searching for antiques and collectibles.
Jean was an active supporter of the Drop-In Learning Center in New London and served on the board of directors for many years. She was a great sports fan, particularly of the UCONN women's basketball team and the Boston Red Sox. She rarely missed a televised game and especially enjoyed UCONN's NCAA championships and Boston's World Series victories.
The family will receive friends from 6 to 8 p.m. Tuesday at Byles Memorial Home, 99 Huntington St., New London. Burial is private.
In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation to Friends of Harkness Memorial State Park, PO Box 10, Waterford CT 06385 or the Drop-In Learning Center, 45 Broad St., New London CT 06320.
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