Irma Jean Streeter

Groton - Irma Jean Streeter, 75, of Groton, passed away unexpectedly and peacefully at the Lawrence + Memorial Hospital in New London, Saturday, March 11, 2023, with family members at her side.

She was born at the Submarine Base, Groton, the daughter of Samuel and Marjorie (Collins) Stanley.

Irma graduated from Groton's Fitch High School in 1965. She graduated from Mohegan Community College in 1983, earning an Associate's Degree in Early Childhood Education. She also graduated from University of Connecticut in 1994, receiving a Bachelor Degree in General Studies. While attending college, she worked as the Director of the Beehive Nursery School at the First Congregational Church in Groton from 1976-1984. She was employed as a Paralegal at Groton's General Dynamics Electric Boat for 25 years, retiring in 2009.

She married James L. Streeter March 7, 1964, at the Poquonnock Bridge Baptist Church in Groton. They celebrated their 59th wedding anniversary just a few days before her passing. Their love for each other was unwavering, and they did almost everything together – It was a rare sight to see one without the other.

Besides her husband, Irma is survived by her loving family including her daughter, Sandra Streeter of Groton; her son and daughter-in-law James and Lori Streeter of Canterbury; granddaughters, Megan Shaffer (Sean Shaffer) of North Carolina, and Michelle Fallahi (Mahdi Fallahi) of Putnam; great-grandchildren, Hunter, Lucas, and Riley Dorshimer; brother, Robert Stanley of Jewett City; and sister-in-law, Dorothy Streeter of Groton. She was predeceased by her parents; brother, Neil Stanley; and sister, Joyce Ford.

She was actively involved in Groton community service, including being an elected member of the Town of Groton's Representative Town Meeting for 10 years; a member of the City of Groton's Planning and Zoning Commission for over 10 years and secretary for the City of Groton Republican Committee for 15 years. She was also a founding member of the Groton Bank Open House Days at Bill Memorial Library, where she held a variety of leadership roles for four years. She was a Girl Scout leader in Groton during the 1970s and also a founding member of the Avery Point Lighthouse Society which was instrumental in saving, restoring, and relighting Groton's Avery Point Lighthouse. It is also important to note that Irma assisted her husband in researching and proofreading the historical articles he wrote prior to their publication in the Groton Times newspaper.

Her granddaughter, Megan, described "Grammie" Streeter in this way, "My grandma was on this earth for 75 amazing years. She was a teacher of children, a lover of cats, an incredible blueberry jam maker, a teapot collector, wine aficionado, a beautiful gardener, an amazing crocheter, a wife, a mom, a grandma and a great-grandma".

Speaking of gardening, Irma and Jim had a running joke regarding Jim's calling Black-eyed Susan flowers "Crooked-eye Daisies". Her family remembers Irma spending quiet moments reading and crafting. They especially recall her various and, sometimes non-sensible, casserole inventions!

Irma enjoyed organizing various family gatherings and celebrations and was considered the string that held the family together. She especially loved spending time with her granddaughters around Christmas time making various types of cookies. Irma cherished their two recently deceased cats, Gypsy and Nuggets.

She was a devoted UConn basketball fan and was looking forward to the UConn teams playing in this year's playoff games. She also rooted for the New York Yankees baseball team.

Jim and Irma especially enjoyed spending time together at their second home in Groton, Vt. She loved picking berries from their large blueberry patch on their Vermont property and making jam to share with family and friends. Martha and Rusty Crown and their family of Groton, Vt., became an almost extended family to Irma and Jim, and they enjoyed the many trips they made with Martha and Rusty throughout the country.

Irma was intelligent, kind and an inspiration to her family and all who knew her. She can best be described as being an all- around sweet and wonderful person. She will be sorely missed, but never forgotten, by her family and the wealth of friends she made throughout the years.

Calling hours are from 4 to 6 p.m. Sunday, March 19, at Byles-Groton Memorial Home, 310 Thames Street, Groton.

A special service will be held for her at 11 a.m. Monday, March 20, at the First Congregational Church, 162 Monument Street, Groton.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to either The Cystic Fibrosis Foundation, 4550 Montgomery Avenue, Suite 1100N, Bethesda, MD 20814 or The American Heart Association, P.O. Box 840692, Dallas, TX 75284. Please visit www.byles.com to sign the guest book or share a memory with the family.