Pamela Hines Monroe

1943 - 2025

Pamela Hines Monroe
Pamela Hines Briggs Dekker, October 7, 1943 - November 7, 2025, Pamela Hines Briggs Dekker, 82, of New Canaan, CT, passed away peacefully on November 7, 2025 surrounded by her loving children. Pam was born in New York City, on October 7, 1943 to Priscilla and Gordon Hines. Pam lived her early life in Glen Cove, NY, where she attended Friends Academy. After moving to Darien, CT in 1952, Pam graduated from Darien High School in 1961, and attended Skidmore College where she earned a Bachelor of Science degree in nursing. Pam started her 40 year nursing career as a night supervisor at a psychiatric nursing hospital in Hanover, MA. Upon moving to Connecticut, she joined Visiting Nurse and Hospice in Wilton, and attended Fairfield University for a specialization in Hospice. Pam worked as a Hospice nurse for 19 years, while acting as the director of the paraprofessional staff. She went on to attend Western Connecticut University earning a MHA/MBA, and in 1999 she joined the staff of New England Home Care as nursing supervisor and director of the lower Fairfield county office. Pam took great pride in her career and was an ever faithful and devoted nurse. She skillfully cared for, comforted, and ministered to countless patients and their families. In 1965 Pam married her high school sweetheart, Ben Briggs, at Noroton Presbyterian Church. They had three children whom Pam referred to as their greatest achievement. They lived in Hanson, MA, New Rochelle, NY and Ridgefield, CT, divorced in 1984, and remained lifelong friends. In 2001 Pam met a former high school friend, Thomas Dekker, attending her 40th High School reunion. In 2003, Pam retired and moved to Boothbay Harbor, ME to be with Tom, where they enjoyed twenty wonderful years together. They spent time with their cherished family and friends, sailed, enjoyed lobster dinners, traveled, spent winters in Florida, and built and cultivated their beautiful gardens at their home. After Tom's death, Pam relocated to New Canaan, CT where she spent her last years enjoying time with family and friends. Beyond being an avid gardener, Pam was a gifted pianist and adored music. She loved travel, reading (2-3 books a week!), sunsets, her NYT crossword puzzles and words with friends, a good conversation with a glass of wine or cup of tea (accompanied by anything sweet!), and had a wonderful talent for interior decorating and design. Her greatest love was her family and dear friends. Pam was adored by all who knew her, and will be forever cherished in memory. Pam was predeceased by her parents, her granddaughter Kelly Elizabeth Briggs, her brother Clay, and her beloved Tom. She is survived by her sister Nancy (Rick) Senftleben, and brothers Gordon (Liz), and Blaikie (Judy) Hines, her sister-in-law Ellen Hines, daughters Lauren (Gary) Paxton and Sara (James) Newman, son Benson (Lisa) Briggs, grandsons Andrew (Katarina), Bryan (Megan), and Sean, granddaughters Meghan and Ellie and great grandson Archie, former spouse Ben Briggs, nieces, nephews, great nieces and nephews, and further survived by other relatives and friends. A celebration of life service will be held on Thursday, November 13, 2025, at Noroton Presbyterian Church, 2011 Post Road, Darien, CT at 11:30 a.m. Further details available at hoytfh@hoytfuneralhome.com. In lieu of flowers, please make donations to Regional Hospice, 30 Milestone Road, Danbury, CT.