Sydney Bartlett Tansi

Sydney Bartlett Tansi, 91, of Manchester, CT, passed away peacefully at her home on December 18th, 2023. Sydney was born on February 16th, 1932 in Mount Kisco, NY, the daughter of Samuel and Caroline (Mead) Bartlett. She was a graduate of St. Mary’s School in Peekskill, New York and earned a degree in Biology from Skidmore College in Saratoga Springs, New York in 1954. She is survived by her sister, Frances Howes, her brother, Martin Bartlett, and four children: William Tansi and wife Joan of Wrentham, MA, Robert Tansi of Quincy, MA, Anna Tansi of South Windsor, CT, and Thomas Tansi and wife Merideth of Camden, ME. She is also survived by five grandchildren: Sarah Tansi, Benjamin Tansi, Andrew Aramini, Caroline Aramini, and William Tansi. She was predeceased by a brother, George Bartlett, and a sister, Mary Richards. Sydney grew up in South Kent, CT during the 1930s and 1940s before attending St. Mary’s. She and her family spent most of their summers in Eastham, Massachusetts. After graduating from Skidmore College, Sydney married Theodore Tansi in 1954. They lived in Biloxi, Mississippi, West Hartford, CT, and Kensington, MD before settling in Simsbury, CT with their four children in 1969. In the late 1970s, Sydney attended Tunxis Community College and earned her Dental Assistant certificate. Upon graduation she was employed by The UConn Health Center for 14 years, first as a dental assistant and later as a supervisor, coordinating activities in the endodontics clinic. She was always involved in ministries and programs at St. James’s Church in West Hartford, CT. Some of those included facilitating The Education For Ministry, serving as Chairperson of the Pastoral Care Team, coordinating The Women’s Evening Group, creating handmade stations of the cross, recruiting people to read the Bible round-the-clock during the Paschal Triduum, and serving as a Lay Eucharist Minister bringing the sacraments to homebound parishioners. She was an avid singer, enjoying performing and competing with The Sweet Adelines as well as The Glastonbury Chorus. After retiring from the State of Connecticut in 1994, Sydney lived in West Hartford, Glastonbury, and Manchester, CT. Throughout her life, many people knew Syd for her positive disposition and warm smile, her giving nature, as well as her artistic talent. She painted scenes inside clamshells, carved birds out of wood, traveled to the Grand Tetons to paint vistas on canvas, and created decorative designs on stones. Each summer she nurtured her children, grandchildren and generations of cousins with her love of nature in rustic elements on the shore of Webster Lake. Whether through arts, crafts, stories, birding, fishing, music or games Sydney’s unconditional love, strength of spirit and generosity was inspiring and could be seen in her unwavering care for others. A Celebration of Life service will be held on September 28, 2024 from noon to 1:00 PM at St. James’s Episcopal Church, 19 Walden Street, West Hartford, CT. A reception follows. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the National Audubon Society.

Sydney Bartlett Tansi

December 18, 2023