Anna Katherine Dest

It is with both deep sorrow and great joy that Anna Katherine Dest --beloved wife, mother, grandmother, and great grandmother -- has taken flight on June 24, 2017. Born on August 31, 1928, Anna was the embodiment of resilience, strength, great love, wisdom and grace. Determined to overcome the abject poverty of her childhood during the Great Depression, she graduated from New Haven Teachers College in 1951. While working her way through school, her winning attitude, adventuresome spirit and smile captivated William M. Dest, her husband of 65 years. Athletic in all things, she was particularly adept at swimming and diving, winning many competitions, including a Connecticut State diving championship. She taught in the Hartford School system for many years, and continued her life-long love of swimming and teaching this essential skill to many others. Above all else, Anna’s greatest accomplishment was her devotion to her family. She encouraged and supported her husband's academic and scientific aspirations while raising their eight children, William D. Dest, Robert P. Dest, Paul M. Dest, Susan C. Albin, Thomas S. Dest, Janet Alicia Dest, Raymond B. Dest and Lydia Alexandra Dest. One child, Laura Dest, predeceased her at a young age. Anna was also predeceased by her brother, Stanley Storozynski. Anna is survived by her faithful husband, her 8 loving children, 10 grandchildren and 8 great-grandchildren. She served as a continuous inspiration to her family teaching them independence of thought, freedom, empathy and great acceptance of all beings – all the while finding ways to make light of every situation with her quick wit. A love story from beginning to end, Anna died peacefully in the arms of her husband, William, after gazing gently into each other’s eyes. A truly magical moment. She will be missed, but the family is comforted to know that her essence brightly flickers within us all. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to Masonicare Partners, 111 Founders Plaza East Hartford, CT 06108 or you may practice random acts of kindness in her honor. Calling hours are Wednesday June 28th from 4 – 7 pm at the D’Esopo Funeral Chapel, 277 Folly Brook Boulevard, Wethersfield, CT. A graveside celebration of life ceremony will be held Thursday June 29 at 11:00 am at the Village Cemetery in Old Wethersfield. For online expressions of sympathy to the family, please visit www.desopo.com.