Marion Cordier

Marion Adeline Cordier, 97, of East Hartford passed away peacefully on May 25, 2022. Beloved wife of the late Leo J. Cordier, Marion will always be remembered as the matriarch of the family. Daughter of the late Alfred and Elizabeth Cavagnaro, Marion was a lifelong resident of East Hartford, where she grew up, met her husband and raised her family.

She was a spirited, kind-hearted and nurturing individual who adored her husband and five children. She was not averse to living in their shadows and behind the scenes as a tender, limitless and ceaseless family support system. For sixty-five years, Marion was the wind beneath the wings of a very revered and decorated husband, Leo, who served as an Air Force pilot during World War II.

She fervently believed in service to the community and to the nation and she instilled these values into her five sons. This was evidenced by their distinguished professional, military and public safety careers and their athletic accomplishments. Marion was also dedicated to her community, as demonstrated through her exemplary service as President of the East Hartford Women’s Club during the sixties. She was a devout Catholic and a communicant of St. Christopher’s Church and St. Rose Church in East Hartford. She found great joy for many years as an active member of the St. Rose Church Choir.

Like her sons, Marion was also somewhat of an athlete, known by some of her peers for her duckpin bowling league achievements. She was an artisan, as well. The beautiful, lovingly handcrafted sweaters worn by her family evoked the awe and admiration of her friends. She and her husband were enthusiastic nationwide and worldwide travelers, having had many adventures in destinations that included Europe, Hawaii and the Caribbean. Her most treasured vacations, however, were the annual trips with her young and growing family on Cape Cod. Her family will embrace her memory for generations to come and the world has been blessed by her presence.

Marion will be deeply missed by her beloved sons Robert and his wife Joan of Willington, Ronald and his wife Katherine of Westerly, RI, James and his wife Joan of Hebron, and Thomas and his wife Jennifer of Tolland. Marion also leaves behind seven adored grandchildren and six great grandchildren, including Jonathan of Westerly, RI and his children Skyler and Brayden Dey of Salt Lake City, UT; Gregory and his wife Amanda and their children Elora and Lilah of Bow, NH; Kevin and his wife Amanda and their children Brooke and Jack of Bolton; Jaimie and her husband Sean Leigh of Astoria, NY; Ryan of Charlottesville, VA; and Adeline and Thomas II of Tolland. In addition to her parents and husband, she joins in heaven her eldest son Richard and grandson Michael.

Her family would like to thank the staff at Brookdale Buckingham in Glastonbury for their loving care of Marion for the past five months.

A period of visitation will be held on Tuesday, May 31, 2022 at Newkirk & Whitney Funeral Home, 318 Burnside Ave, East Hartford from 11:00am-12:00pm. A funeral home prayer service will follow at 12:00pm. Interment services will be private. For an online memorial, please visit www.NewkirkAndWhitney.com