Gertrude M. ""Gert"" (Lutzen) O'Brien

Gertrude M. “Gert” (Lutzen) O’Brien, 94, of South Windsor and formerly of East Hartford, passed away peacefully on Monday, January 15, 2018 at her home surrounded by her loving and caring family. Born in Manchester on February 2, 1923, a daughter of the late John and Martha (Smith) Lutzen, she had been a resident of East Hartford for over 80 years prior to moving to South Windsor four years ago. Gert was a graduate of East Hartford High School, Class of 1942 and worked as a Waitress in area restaurants for many years. She enjoyed traveling to Ireland and Italy as well as vacationing at the beach. She was very talented in arts and crafts making Porcelain Dolls, and sewing. Most importantly, Gert was very family oriented as a proud mother, grandmother, great-grandmother, and great, great-grandmother who cherished spending time with her family.

Gert is survived by a son, Edward O’Brien and his wife Marie, of South Windsor; five daughters, Carole Bavier of Norwich, Maureen Bavier of Coventry, Mary Armstrong and her husband Al, of Glastonbury, Arline O’Brien of Norwich, Katherine McKinlay of South Palm Beach, FL; twelve grandchildren, Meredith Beaudreault and her husband Jason, of Mansfield Center, Noah Bavier of Coventry, Johannah Gorgone and her husband Michael, of Columbia, Melina Armstrong of Glastonbury, Lindsay Hale and her husband Jason, of Essex, Matthew Merola and his wife Kaitlyn, of Melrose, MA, Eric O’Brien and his wife Amie, of Tolland, Alison Guillet and her husband Kyle, of San Diego, CA, Ashley O’Brien of South Windsor, Jonathan O’Brien of South Windsor, Paul Shea and his partner Kara Disipio, of Vernon, Jessica Prince and her husband John, of West Palm Beach, FL; sixteen great-grandchildren; one great, great-grandson; a devoted caregiver, Donna Reid-Roberts of Windsor; many nieces, nephews, and dear friends. Besides her parents, Gert was predeceased by a daughter, Jane O’Brien of East Hartford; a sister, Martha Butcher of South Windsor; five brothers, John Lutzen, Raymond Lutzen, and Charles Lutzen all of Florida, William Lutzen of New York, and Carl Lutzen of Pennsylvania.

Funeral service will be Saturday (January 20th) at 10 am at the D’ESOPO-East Hartford Memorial Chapel, 30 Carter Street, East Hartford. Burial will follow at St. Mary’s Cemetery, (Section D), Burnside Avenue, East Hartford. Relatives and friends may call at the funeral home chapel on Friday (January 19th) from 4 - 7 pm. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions in Gertrude’s name may be made to The House of Bread, 1453 Main Street, Hartford, CT 06120 or to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, 501 St. Jude Place, Memphis, TN 38105. Gert’s family would like to extend their sincere gratitude and appreciation to the dedicated staff at A Caring Hand of Vernon and ECHN Visiting Nurse & Health Services of CT in Vernon for their professionalism, kindness, care, compassion, and love given to Gertrude and her entire family. For on-line expressions of sympathy to the family please visit www.desopo.com.