Jean P. Dufrat

1936 - 2021

Jean (Pulcinella) Dufrat, 85, passed away on Wednesday, July 21, 2021, surrounded by her loving family.

Jean was born on May 14, 1936, in Bronx, NY, the daughter of the late Vincent Pulcinella, Sr. and Antoinette (Petito) Pulcinella. She is survived by her daughters, Laura Dufrat (Aldo Sirotic) of Arlington, VA and Rebecca (Thomas) Butera of Glastonbury, CT and her son, Eugene J. Dufrat, Jr., of Meriden, CT and her grandchildren, Veronica Sirotic, Eva Sirotic, Rose Butera, and Carmelo Joseph (CJ) Butera.

In addition, Jean is survived by her siblings MaryAnn Pulcinella and Vincent (Kathy) Pulcinella and her niece, Suzanne (Thomas) Pallotta, her great nieces Candace Massaro, Marissa Pallotta and great nephews Marcus Massaro and Thomas Pallotta , Jr. Besides her parents, Jean is predeceased by her brother-in-law, Donald J. Pasculano.

Jean graduated from St. Rose Parochial School (1950), Meriden High School (1954) and Central Connecticut State College (BS. Ed1958, MS. Ed1980). She started her teaching career in Wallingford, CT, but spent most of her career teaching elementary school in Middletown, CT. Jean was very active in her community. She was a member of the Washington Middle School Building Committee, the Democratic Town Committee, the Middlesex Opera Association and a board member of the Castle Craig (CCALC) Adult Learning Center. She was a member of the National Organization of Women (NOW) and marched for the ratification of the Equal Rights Amendment in 1978. She was a representative of the Friendship Force of Connecticut and a member of the first exchange group with Tel Aviv, Israel. Jean loved to travel and visited many countries when her daughter Laura's family lived abroad including Poland, Bulgaria, Turkey and Norway. She also traveled with her sister MaryAnn and friends to Mexico, Brazil, Venezuela and Italy. Jean loved nothing more than spending time with her grandchildren, playing cards, and going out to eat with family and friends.

The family would like to express their deep appreciation and thanks to the doctors, nurses and staff at the Gray Cancer Center and North 8 and Bliss 5 at Hartford Hospital, who took such wonderful care of her during these difficult times.

Her family will receive friends and relatives on Tuesday, July 27th from 9:00 a.m. to 10:30 a.m. at the John J. Ferry & Sons Funeral Home, 88 East Main St., followed by a Mass of Christian Burial at 11 a.m. at St. Rose of Lima Church 35 Center Street, Meriden. Burial will be in Sacred Heart Cemetery.

Should friends desire, contributions in her memory, may be made to the American Cancer Society, P.O. Box 22478, Oklahoma City, OK 73123 or Hartford Hospital ATTN: Department of Philanthropy, 80 Seymour Street, P.O. Box 5037, Hartford, CT 06102. For online condolences, please visit jferryfh.com