Memorial for Patricia Ellen Orr Newton
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Born in Manchester, CT on Mar. 17, 1932
Departed on May 17, 2017 and resided in Durham, CT.
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| Celebration of Life: |
Friday, Jun. 2, 2017
5:00 pm
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Please click on the links above for locations, times, maps, and directions.
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Patricia E. (Orr) Newton, 85, of Durham, passed away at May 17, 2017 at the Water's Edge Rehabilitation Center in Middletown.
Pat was born March 17, 1932, in Manchester, daughter of the late Ruth (Nevers) and Robert Orr. She grew up in Manchester and had been a resident of Durham since she and Roger married in 1958 and built their house there. They met while working for Connecticut Light and Power, where Roger worked as a field supervisor, and Pat staffed a help line and did demonstrations for people on how to use an electric stove.
Once the children were born, Pat became what she proudly termed "a domestic engineer." She had always wanted to go to college, so when the children were old enough, she went back to school. She received her BA in Special Education from Southern Connecticut State College in 1981 and her MS in Reading in 1987. She was employed for many years in Durham, Middlefield, and Middletown as a substitute teacher. Pat was a member of the United Churches of Durham, and was an avid gardener. She spent many summers tending to her flowers and vegetables. She also loved arts and crafts, and enjoyed creating many things, from stepping stones to painted book bags.
Pat will be remembered for the many crafts that she taught her children, along with passing along a love for gardening and raising many different flowers and vegetables. She enjoyed showing off her flower arrangements and other items at the fair, as well as selling flowers, vegetables, and crafts at the local farmers markets. She was always eager to help with plant selection and planting advice.
She will also be remembered for the many places that the family went on field trips. The Branford Trolley Museum, the Valley Railroad, Hammonasset Beach and Sturbridge Village were all popular destinations. In her later years, she also enjoyed going to Sturbridge Village, Arts in the Atrium in Middletown, and Magic Waters Butterfly Conservatory and Gardens.
Along with her parents, Pat was preceded in death by her brother, Robert E. Orr, and her beloved husband, Roger B. Newton.
She is survived by her sons, Roger and Murray Newton, her daughters, Lavinia Vigue, and her husband, Kevin, Orinda Conway, and her husband, Randy. She also leaves four grandchildren, Allison and Samantha Vigue and Logan and Colton Conway and her sister-in-law, Helen Orr, and her son Robert, and his children Molly, Sydney and Jacqueline Orr.
A Celebration of Life will be held at the United Churches in Durham, 228 Main Street, Durham on Friday, June 2nd at 5:00 pm with the Rev. Jeanette Hicks officiating. A short reception will follow in the Fellowship Hall.
There will be no calling hours and in lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Patricia O. Newton Memorial Fund c/o any local Liberty Bank for the purchase of a memorial bench at the Magic Waters Butterfly Conservatory and Gardens. To share memories or send condolences to the family, please visit www.doolittlefuneralservice.com.
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