Nancy W. Cone

On April 15, 2025, Nancy Winnie Cone, 81, peacefully slipped from this world after a long illness. Her beloved spouse Bill was waiting to greet her and sweep her into his arms for a dance across the heavenly plains. Nancy, the daughter of the late William Winnie and Grace (LeMay) Donnelly, was born in Hartford CT. For part of her childhood, she lived in Maryland with her Winnie family, but her formative years were spent in Frog Hollow, Hartford, where she lived with her Meme and Pepe, and attended French-Catholic elementary school. Nancy was proud of her Quebecois heritage and in later years, would proclaim "I'm stubborn, I'm old, and I'm French." After graduating from Hartford High School in 1961, she attended the IBM School in Chicago and worked for a time in the circulation accounting department at the Hartford Courant. Nancy later worked as a bookkeeper at various businesses in Colchester and for the family-owned Portland Ace Hardware; for more than 20 years she was a personnel specialist for the US Navy in Groton CT, retiring in 2009. She will be deeply missed by her three daughters, Wendy Gilman and her husband, Charles, Cheryl Jeffries and her husband, Will and Cindy Govoni and her husband, Jeff; two sons, Bill Cone and his wife, Linda and Mike Cone and his wife, Andrea Maynard; brother, Hugh Donnelly and his partner Judy Jordan; sisters Patrica DeSimone and her husband Joe and Debbie Marshall and her husband Dave; grandchildren, Gregory and Marguerite Gilman, Morgan, Rileigh, and Ryan Govoni, Jess Avizinis and her husband Ed, and Josh Redinger and his wife, Ashley Gee-Redinger; great-grandchildren, Aimable and Nina Avizinis; sister-in-law Virginia Winnie; brother-in-law John Cone and his wife Donna; sister-in-law Katherine's spouse Daniel Patry; dear aunts Florence Druin and Helen Hamel; many nieces and nephews; and numerous dear cousins. In addition to her husband and parents, Nancy was predeceased by her brother William Winnie, her close cousin Wayne Plummer, and sisters-in-law Barbara Cone and Katherine Patry. In 2017, Nancy fulfilled a lifelong wish and was able to "move South," settling in Seneca SC near family. She and Bill truly enjoyed their time there, boating with family and friends on Lake Keowee, tailgating at Clemson games, listening to live music, and dancing in Ram Cat Alley. Nancy, a devout Catholic, was a parishioner of St. Andrews in Colchester for 45 years, St Paul the Apostle Catholic Church in Seneca, and upon her return to Connecticut, St Patrick's in East Hampton. Her well-thumbed prayer book and worn rosary beads are a testament to her devotion to prayer. She spent her free time reading, crocheting, sewing, and doing other crafts. If we couldn't find her, she was likely at the casino, playing the slots. She loved being with her grandchildren and being called Meme (or Mems). Her Fireball nightcap was a special treat. Special thanks to all that have been praying for her, particularly her friends from St. Andrew's and St. Patrick's. The family is also deeply grateful to Hartford Healthcare Hospice and all the staff at St Joseph Living Center in Windham CT for their kind, tender, and loving care of Nancy in her final weeks. A funeral mass will be held on Saturday, April 26 at 11 am at Saint Patrick's Catholic Church, 47 West High Street, East Hampton CT 06424. Please wear something blue, Nancy's favorite color. Her inurnment will take place at St. Paul the Apostle Catholic Church, Seneca, SC at a later date. In lieu of flowers, those who wish may consider a donation to St. John Paul II Parish - St. Patrick/St. Bridget, 47 West High Street, East Hampton CT or to the American Lung Association (lung.org) For online condolences or to share a memory of Nancy for her family, please visit www.auroramccarthyfuneralhome.com To send flowers to the family or plant a tree in memory of Nancy W. Cone, please visit our floral store.