Neil L. Hanlon

Neil Louis Hanlon, 89, of Plainville, passed away surrounded by his loving family on Wednesday, May 29, 2024, at the St. Mary Home of West Hartford.
Born in South Meriden, CT, he was the son of the late Louis and Loretta (Lamb) Hanlon. Neil attended H.C. Wilcox Technical High School, then he served his country honorably in the United States Marine Corps during the Korean War. After returning from the service, he married and started a family. Neil's first job upon his return was at Valley Oil. An incredibly loyal employee, he worked his way up from oil delivery to Operations Manager, and he stayed there until his retirement.
He played as hard as he worked, and whether it was yard work, woodwork, painting, wallpapering, toy making, picture taking, fishing, jumping waves, or dancing (who can forget seeing his version of YMCA for the first time?), Neil always did it the best he could (which was the best), and shared his enthusiasm with everyone around him.
Being a kid at heart, Neil spoke their language and was a gentle teacher of life skills ("if at first you don't succeed...", "life's not about waiting for the rain to stop...", "Success comes in a can - I CAN!"). A favorite passage he had marked in a book: "To show a child what has once delighted you, to find the child's delight added to your own, so that there is now a double delight seen in the glow of trust and affection, this is happiness. J.B. Priestley." All his children, grandchildren, nieces, and nephews are better people for his time and teachings. Often, he said, "don't leave things unfinished; tomorrow is not promised and someone else will have to finish your work". You can rest now; you have finished the job of being a great man.
Neil is survived by his son, Matthew Hanlon, and his wife Carin of East Haddam; three daughters, Cindy Hanlon of Plainville, Wendy Jersey and her husband Frank of Bristol and Penny Turton and her husband Skip of Plainville, as well as seven grandchildren, Robert Turton III and his wife Simmone, Kelly Turton, Emily Plaskett, Victoria Kramer and her husband Stefan, Jennifer Murphy and her husband Andrew, Madison Hanlon and Caitlin Hanlon. He also leaves six great grandchildren, Slade, Maizey, Clara, Colton, Gabriel, River, and a new great-granddaughter coming this month (we're sure they'll cross paths in heaven) along with two sisters-in-law, Jackie Hanlon and Maria Hanlon and many nieces, nephews, and extended family members. Besides his parents, Neil was predeceased by his wife Pauline Hanlon, ex-wife and friend, Regina Hanlon Cephas, three brothers and a sister-in-law, Michael Hanlon and his wife Sandra, Thomas Hanlon, and Paul Hanlon, and granddaughter Christine Applewhite Vazquez. (Also predeceased by the only dog he ever shared a bed with, Sox.)
The family will receive relatives and friends from 4 to 7 p.m. on Monday, June 3rd at the Bailey Funeral Home, 48 Broad St., Plainville. A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at 10 a.m. on Tuesday, June 4th at Our Lady of Mercy Church, 19 S. Canal St., Plainville. Everyone is asked to meet directly at the church. A burial with Military Honors will follow at Riverside Cemetery, Farmington.
In lieu of flowers, if desired, memorial donations in Neil's name can be made to the Gary Sinise Foundation at www.garysinisefoundation.org/donate or to the Alzheimer's Association at www.alz.org/donate
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