Harriette Felicia Wolslegel

Hareriette F. Wolslegel

1937 - 2025

Woodstock - Harriette Felicia Wolslegel of Woodstock and recently, Brooklyn, CT, died Christmas morning after a brief illness and wonderful life. Born in Woonsocket, Rhode Island, on December 7, 1937, she grew up during World War II and the happy days of the 1950s. From the age of 18 to 20 she worked at Rhode Island Hospital as a phlebotomist, where her gentle caring nature flourished. Daughter of Armand and Angela Lizotte, and sister of Larry, Barbra and Shelly, she met her loving husband, Walter at a University of Rhode Island dance and hayride in the fall of 1956. Married two years later to the day, they remained lovingly devoted to each other for the next 67 years.

Harriette and Walter (92) raised five children who will miss her dearly: Thomas (66) married to Marianne, William (65) married to Lisa, Steven (64) married to Jeanne, Kenneth (61) married to Mae, and Kristen. Five grandchildren all grew in character and depth because of their loving grandmother: Nicholas (28), Krista (25), Olivia (25), Sofia (13) and Benjamin (12). The grandchildren will especially miss their Nanna's kindness and her famous tea parties.

Deeply devoted to her family and faith, she was a true instrument of peace. Her vast circle of friends was fed by her nature - "it is in giving that we receive". In the 1980s as her kids pursued college and career, she worked as the church secretary at Saint Philips Catholic Church in Ashford, CT. During this time, she also served as regional president of Aglow International, a worldwide organization that spread biblical principles as solutions to the challenging issues of our time.

She loved traveling to warm places in the winter, first to Palm Springs, CA, then to Florida, where she and Walter built a home in Port Charlotte. Her love of gardening, flowers and a natural green thumb that could make anything grow, was a source of great peace. She cooked from scratch, and raised her children on the vegetables she and Walter grew themselves. Even at 87, she still loved tending her son's garden and would get right down to the soil and feel the earth and nature in her hands.

Everything about Harriette's make-up as a human being and her example as a daughter, sister, wife, mother, aunt, grandmother and friend was just as it should have been. Her whole life she helped other people grow, heal and succeed, never seeking the spotlight for herself. She was the best listener, and many friends expressed: "she always made me feel I was the most important person in the world". Her wonderful sense of humor allowed her to freely laugh at herself. She even was her children's first "rock star", playing acoustic guitar and singing to them when they were young. She was creative and artful and always made the space she lived in more beautiful. Humility, dignity, selflessness, and unfailing love emanated from her eyes, all the way to her last moments. Even her death created beauty and healing for her family, allowing them to learn from not just her profound life, but from her graceful loving departure from this world.

Funeral services have been entrusted to the Gilman Funeral Home & Crematory, 104 Church St., Putnam, CT. Memorial services for Harriette will be announced at a later date. For memorial guestbook please visit www.GilmanAndValade.com.