Anne-Marie Purdon

Anne-Marie Purdon of West Hartford, CT, died Tuesday, July 5, after a brief illness. Born in 1926 to Michael Cornelius Purdon and Mary Murphy Purdon, Anne-Marie spent her early childhood in Old Wethersfield before moving with her family to Brooklyn Heights, New York. After graduating from St. Joseph's College in New York with an English degree, Miss Purdon lived and worked in Manhattan until returning to Connecticut 45 years ago. Anne-Marie spent the rest of her life here, living and working in the Hartford area, before settling in West Hartford many years ago. She was a long time State of Connecticut employee, and was an Executive Administrator in the Attorney General's office until her retirement in 1994. Anne-Marie enjoyed decades of summers in Gloucester and Rockport, MA. She was an avid reader who was never more content than with a British mystery in hand, jelly beans or an elaborate coffee concoction at the ready, with the drone of her beloved Yankees playing in the background. A gifted pianist and former licensed Marine Pilot US Power Squadron, she relished her travels to England and scooting about town in her little grey Toyota, sometimes accompanied by her young friend Seana, who referred to Anne-Marie as her "Fairy Godmother." To the end, she had an abiding and frequently acerbic wit, treating friend and acquaintance alike to a variety of aphorisms and epithets that will be remembered and oft repeated. Anne-Marie gained fleeting notoriety recently during a stay at Hartford Hospital's Cardiac Ward where, at 2:00 am, she carefully crafted an ashtray, opened a Vogue magazine and lit a cigarette. When hospital staff confiscated her smoking materials, she threatened to disclose their cruelty to the geriatric to the local media. She was fiercely loyal to her friends, counting Patrick Connolly, Don Harger, Maureen Hearn, Stanley Hodyl, and Marc Sherer among them- all of whom loved and cared for her in return. Those friends thank the staff of Newington Health Care Center and MiddleWoods of Newington for their kindness and patience. Calling hours are Friday, July 8th, from 4:00 to 7:00 pm at Molloy Funeral Home, 906 Farmington Ave., West Hartford. A brief service will be held on Saturday, July 9th at 10:30 a.m. at the Molloy Funeral Home followed by her burial in Fairview Cemetery. In Lieu of flowers, contributions may be made in Anne-Marie' name to ADRC, 500 Blue Hills Avenue, Hartford, CT 06112, ATTN: ADRC Chief Fiscal Officer/Donations.

Anne-Marie Purdon

November 20, 1926 - July 5, 2011