Jean Hadley

Jean was born December 12, 1932, in Hartford, CT to the late Theodore and Dorothy (Frappier) Sills. She grew up in Newington, CT, and graduated from Newington High School in 1950. After high school, she attended Lenox Hill Hospital School of Nursing in New York City, where she received her RN. She worked as a registered nurse in New York, Colorado, and Connecticut.

Jean met Robert (Bob) Hadley in New York City while he was a member of the U.S. Air Force, and they married in 1956 after he was discharged. They had an active and exciting life traveling across the country in their motor home as well as internationally. While Jean enjoyed travel, she loved spending summers on Cape Cod. She and Bob often hosted family and friends, including an almost 40-year tradition of Banjo Weekend, where Jean had a knack for making sure everyone felt welcome and was well-fed.

Jean had a great love of music, and after several years of attending other people’s concerts, took up the tenor banjo and played with Bob in several groups including the Elm City Banjo Society. She loved all forms of needlework, sewing clothes for herself and the family, quilting, knitting, crocheting, and creating beautiful works of art. While raising her children, Jean was an active volunteer in the Newington public schools assisting with the elementary reading program.

Jean was awarded a Paul Harris Fellowship from Rotary International for her volunteer work with the Polio Plus program.

Jean is survived by her husband Bob Hadley of Newington, her daughter Terri Carotenuto and her husband Joe of Acton, MA, her son Bob Hadley Jr. and his wife Mary Niederman of Riverside, RI, her sisters Joan Isenberg of S. Yarmouth, MA and Kathleen Sills of Concord, MA, her grandchildren Michael, Max, and Amanda, and her grand-dog Rocky. In addition to her parents, she was pre-deceased by her brother Theodore Sills, Jr.

A private graveside service will be held at the convenience of the family.

Memorial donations may be made to Connecticut Children’s Medical Center, where Jean worked as a nurse, to support the Nursing Fund. Gifts can be made at Donate to Connecticut Children's Foundation, Inc. (connecticutchildrens.org) Checks, payable to Connecticut Children’s Foundation, may be mailed to: Connecticut Children’s Foundation, PO BOX 412901, Boston, MA 02241-2901. Please include Jean’s name in the memo line.