Jean Walker

1938 - 2021

Jean V. Walker, 82, of East Hartford and Glastonbury, left this earth to join her family in heaven on January 17, 2021. Born September 2, 1938, daughter of the late Gennaro J. and Lucia (Vernile) Viglione, she was predeceased by her sister, Susan A. Viglione, nephew, Jeremy Minney, and infant son, Michael (1963). Jean grew up in the Frog Hollow section of Hartford, a 1956 graduate of Hartford Public High School. She moved to East Hartford, where she lived from 1971 to 2018, until moving to Glastonbury. She worked for the VA hospital in Newington, Krause Caterers, and the West Hartford Job Bank. She volunteered for many years at the Open Hearth in Hartford and was a member of the West Hartford Red Hats. Jean, the family matriarch, was an extraordinary woman who thrived on being surrounded by family and friends for home cooked meals, large holiday and birthday gatherings, and many family vacations. Everyone felt welcomed in her home. She was very proud of her children and grandchildren and was always there to provide advice, financial support, a funny story, or a listening ear. She was our biggest cheerleader, never missing an event for her kids or grandkids - a game, concert, scout event, or award ceremony. She loved visiting with family and friends and discussing our family history while gathered around the table by the wood stove, sharing a glass of wine, cup of tea, hot peppers, Italian bread, and Entenmann's. She enjoyed doing crossword puzzles and watching the snow fall. Her true passion was spending time at her cottages at Old Colony Beach in Old Lyme, CT with her family and friends. No matter the weather, that was her favorite place to be – early in the morning, sitting by the water with her cup of tea and a book. She loved to travel the world with our dad, exploring places like the United States, the Caribbean Islands, Hawaii, Europe, and Mexico. She always came home with great stories – like the time she was invited to join Robert Plante for lunch in St. Lucia!! Jean was in a class by herself - always putting others needs before her own. She was gracious, classy, strong, fiercely devoted to family, a good listener, the light in the room. Anyone who had the pleasure of knowing Jean walked away feeling special and loved. She welcomed anyone and everyone. She was an avid reader and instilled that love in her children- taking us to the library as kids, we would walk home with an armful of books. She loved animals and always had treats when the grand dogs came for a visit. She taught us the importance of family values and strongly encouraged family ties. She hosted a family reunion every New Year's Day to secure that family bond. She leaves her five children and twelve grandchildren: Edward & Sabrina Walker (Ariel and Mason) of East Hartford; Debra Green (Michelle, Patrick of GA, Benjamin) of East Hartford; Michael Walker & Maribel Chaudhry (Cameron, Damian, Melissa, Maryam) of Corona, CA; Nancy Shasha, (Ava, Sari) of South Windsor; David & Jackie Walker (Colby, Courtney, Cailey) of Glastonbury; and her husband Edward Walker. Jean also leaves many cousins, some very close to her heart - Marilyn Vernile and Barbara and John Primeau. Calling hours will be Friday, January 22, 2021 from 4-6 pm at the D'Esopo-East Hartford Memorial Chapel, 30 Carter Street, East Hartford. Due to the current health pandemic everyone is asked to please wear a face covering and adhere to all of the regulations, which include a limited number of people at one time in the funeral home. Funeral service will be Saturday, January 23, 2021 with a Mass of Christian Burial celebrated at 10 am at St. Christopher Church of St. Edmund Campion Parish, 538 Brewer St. East Hartford. Jean's family request that you please go directly to the church on Saturday morning. The mass will be live-streamed via the D'Esopo East Hartford Memorial Chapel Facebook page, https://www.facebook.com/177586392788755. Burial will follow at Mount Saint Benedict Cemetery, Bloomfield. The family does plan to have a Celebration of Jean's life in the future when it is safe for everyone to congregate. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions in Jean's name may be made to the West Hartford Firefighters Scholarship Fund, 2458 Albany Avenue, West Hartford, CT 06117 or to the Open Hearth, 150 Charter Oak Avenue, Hartford, CT 06106. Jean's family would like to express their sincerest gratitude to the staff at The Hearth, Glastonbury and to the nurses, doctors, and staff at Hartford Hospital for the phenomenal care during her last week. Your genuine compassion and caring helped her family through this very difficult time. Jean will be dearly missed by everyone who knew her. Her legacy will live on in her children, grandchildren, and in all those whose lives she has touched. We are comforted knowing she is in heaven dancing with the angels. For on-line expressions of sympathy to the family please visit www.desopoeh.com.