Patricia Katherine (keenan) Welch

Patricia Katherine (Keenan) Welch, 76, of Glastonbury, died unexpectedly Friday (October 3, 2008). She was the beloved wife of the late Richard P. Welch for 33 years. She was born in Pittsfield, Mass., daughter of the late Frank and Katherine Keenan. She was a graduate of Mount St. Joseph Academy and Central Connecticut State College, graduating in 1954. She began her teaching career at Talcott Junior High School, moving to East Hartford High School where she taught business education for 38 years. She was East Hartford's Teacher of the Year in 1987. After her retirement she continued her love of teaching at Morse School of Business for five years. She was a communicant of Our Lady of Peace Church for many years. She was a member of the Irish American Home Society, the Lazarus League, Retirees Group and Eucharistic Minister of Our Lady of Peace Church, East Hartford, and a member of Delta Kappa Gamma. She enjoyed walks on the beach, vacationing in Narragansett, giving her time to charitable causes and watching the Red Sox! Pat is survived by five children, Kathleen (Welch) Lawlor and her husband John of Manchester, Eileen and Maureen Welch, both of Glastonbury, Colleen (Welch) Mills and her husband Kevin of Middletown, and Sean Welch and his wife Kim of North Stonington. She also leaves five grandchildren, Brittany, Courtney and Kevin Mills Jr., Hannah and Maggie Welch, and many dear friends. Funeral services will be Tuesday (October 7th) at 9:30 a.m. from the D'ESOPO-East Hartford Memorial Chapel, 30 Carter St., East Hartford with a Mass of Christian Burial celebrated at 10:30 a.m. at Our Lady of Peace Church, 370 May Road, East Hartford. Burial will follow at St. Mary's Cemetery, Burnside Avenue, East Hartford. Relatives and friends may call at the funeral home chapel on Monday (October 6th) from 4 to 8 p.m. Memorial contributions in Patricia's memory may be made to the American Cancer Society, 538 Preston Ave., P.O. Box 1004, Meriden, CT 06450-1004 or the Connecticut Children's Place, 36 Gardner St., East Windsor, CT 06088. Pat's positive and uplifting spirit was an inspiration to all who knew and loved her. She will be forever missed. For on-line expressions of sympathy to the family please visit www.desopo.com.