Loretta R. Connell

Loretta Rebecca (Lockard) Connell, 93, of Hartford, beloved wife for 30 years of the late Lewis Nathaniel Connell, transitioned peacefully on Tuesday, March 3, 2026, with her devoted son, Matthew Connell, by her side.

Loretta, affectionately known as "Miss Lor," was born in Cove, located in Green Island, Hanover, Jamaica, daughter of the late Benjamin Lockard and Esmelda Glegg. Miss Lor immigrated to the United States in July of 1987 to join her husband, Lewis, and their son, Matthew. Although Miss Lor worked outside of the home occasionally, she was first and foremost, a loving wife and attentive mother, and created a clean, warm, and loving home for her family. Miss Lor was an outstanding cook, and she warmed the home with not only really good food, but her sweet wordless songs that she would hum all day as she busied herself with her chores.

Miss Lor was a devoted Pentecostal church member, from Jamaica to the United States, and although she was not one to be up front and participate, she thoroughly enjoyed worshiping and praising the Lord. Miss Lor was a woman of prayer and faith and her favorite thing to do in her free time was to pick up her Bible and "Count Words," as she would put it. The story behind this phrase was that when she was a child, her foster parents never sent her to school, so she was illiterate until she was in her mid-50's. With the help of the Urban League of Hartford providing Tutoring Services, she eventually and miraculously was able to read her beloved Psalms.

Miss Lor's love language was "Acts of Service." She was not a very vocal person, but she expressed her love for her family simply by doing things for them. Miss Lor was a private woman who guarded her privacy carefully and was never a busy body, in any sense of the word, unless it had to do with her housework. She lived a very principled life, even before her children, not telling them to do something that she was not already doing. She was kind, gentle, and loving, but tough when she needed to be.

Later in her life, Miss Lor resided at Windsor Health & Rehabilitation Center, now Autumn Lake Healthcare, and was dearly loved and affectionately referred as "Grandma" by a majority of the staff. Everyone who knew Miss Lor loved her. She brought so much value and richness into every life she touched, was full of sweetness, wisdom, and light, and will be greatly missed by all, especially her children.

Loretta leaves to celebrate her life, her children, Angela Ellis, Sarah Manolios (formerly Camille Consetta Connell-Goldman) and her husband Mike Manolios, Matthew Connell and his wife Jennifer (Jarrett) Connell, Vernon Clark, and Gregory Anthony Williams; her grandchildren, Branda-Lee (Goldman) Maurushes and her husband Chris, Caleb Andrew Goldman, Samuel David Goldman, Elijah Connell, and Elisa Connell; three great grandchildren, Izzabella Anne and Emmerson Lee Maurushes, and Asher Kai Goldman; and a host of other relatives and friends, including her aunt, Ellen(Glenn) McKenzie; nephew, Alvin Lackard; cousin/confidant, Ms. Olivine Parkinson, and Mr. Cebert Glenn and his wife Beverly (Thaxter) Glenn.

In addition to her parents, she was predeceased by her younger half-brother, David Norinson Lackard, her father's only son.

Her family will receive friends on Friday, April 10, 10-11a.m., with a Celebration of Life, 11 a.m., at the Lodge Community Chapel, 130 Deerfield Rd., Windsor.

Burial will follow in Mt. St. Benedict Cemetery, Bloomfield.