Andrea I. Donovan, 80, of Somers, beloved wife of Francis J. Donovan, Jr., passed away peacefully on Sunday, April 23, 2023, in the comfort of her home.
Born in Norristown, Pennsylvania on Jan. 24, 1943, she was the daughter of the late Leonard Tarlecki and Mary (Volensky) Gehret and grew up in Bridgeport, Pennsylvania. She attended Bishop Kenrick High School in Norristown where she met Francis in the high school band. They fell in love, got married, and enjoyed the next 61 and a half years of marriage, starting in Norristown and moving to Somers in 1972. That union produced her greatest joy and legacy, her children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren. Her next greatest passion was her love of music. She studied concert piano at the Philadelphia Conservatory of Music, performing in recitals during that time. For a short time she also played the piano in a local dance band with her husband, which they created with band mates. After moving to Connecticut, Andrea composed several hymns, and played the organ at various area churches for a number of years. She was a devout Catholic and a communicant at St. Patrick Church in Springfield. She was an avid fan of the UConn Women's Basketball team and enjoyed attending games at Gampel Pavilion. She particularly enjoyed family vacations in Ogunquit, Maine for many years, surrounded by her children and grandchildren, creating memories to last a lifetime.
Besides her husband Francis, she leaves behind her four children, Mary Beth Garlick (husband Bob) of Somers, Diane Donovan of Ellington, Francis J. "Duke" Donovan, III (wife Jeanmarie) of Somers, and Lauren A. Caswell (husband Jim) of Ellington; 14 adored grandchildren; 10 great-grandchildren (with one on the way in August); She also leaves behind her brother Robert Tarlecki (wife Betsy) of Downingtown, Pennsylvania. She was predeceased by three brothers, Edward, Donald, and James Tarlecki; and her stepfather, John K. Gehret.
Her family will receive friends on Thursday, April 27, from 5 to 7 p.m., at Somers Funeral Home, 354 Main St., Somers. Her Funeral will take place on Friday, April 28, beginning at 9:30 a.m., at the funeral home with a procession to St. Patrick Church, Springfield, for a Mass of Christian Burial at 11 a.m. Burial will follow in Somers Center Cemetery.
For online condolences, please visit www.somersfuneralhome.com
[Published by Journal Inquirer, Manchester, Connecticut, from Apr. 26 to Apr. 30, 2023].
Born in Norristown, Pennsylvania on Jan. 24, 1943, she was the daughter of the late Leonard Tarlecki and Mary (Volensky) Gehret and grew up in Bridgeport, Pennsylvania. She attended Bishop Kenrick High School in Norristown where she met Francis in the high school band. They fell in love, got married, and enjoyed the next 61 and a half years of marriage, starting in Norristown and moving to Somers in 1972. That union produced her greatest joy and legacy, her children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren. Her next greatest passion was her love of music. She studied concert piano at the Philadelphia Conservatory of Music, performing in recitals during that time. For a short time she also played the piano in a local dance band with her husband, which they created with band mates. After moving to Connecticut, Andrea composed several hymns, and played the organ at various area churches for a number of years. She was a devout Catholic and a communicant at St. Patrick Church in Springfield. She was an avid fan of the UConn Women's Basketball team and enjoyed attending games at Gampel Pavilion. She particularly enjoyed family vacations in Ogunquit, Maine for many years, surrounded by her children and grandchildren, creating memories to last a lifetime.
Besides her husband Francis, she leaves behind her four children, Mary Beth Garlick (husband Bob) of Somers, Diane Donovan of Ellington, Francis J. "Duke" Donovan, III (wife Jeanmarie) of Somers, and Lauren A. Caswell (husband Jim) of Ellington; 14 adored grandchildren; 10 great-grandchildren (with one on the way in August); She also leaves behind her brother Robert Tarlecki (wife Betsy) of Downingtown, Pennsylvania. She was predeceased by three brothers, Edward, Donald, and James Tarlecki; and her stepfather, John K. Gehret.
Her family will receive friends on Thursday, April 27, from 5 to 7 p.m., at Somers Funeral Home, 354 Main St., Somers. Her Funeral will take place on Friday, April 28, beginning at 9:30 a.m., at the funeral home with a procession to St. Patrick Church, Springfield, for a Mass of Christian Burial at 11 a.m. Burial will follow in Somers Center Cemetery.
For online condolences, please visit www.somersfuneralhome.com
[Published by Journal Inquirer, Manchester, Connecticut, from Apr. 26 to Apr. 30, 2023].
Andrea I. Donovan, 80, of Somers, beloved wife of Francis J. Donovan, Jr., passed away peacefully on Sunday, April 23, 2023, in the comfort of her home.
Born in Norristown, Pennsylvania on Jan. 24, 1943, she was the daughter of the late Leonard Tarlecki and Mary (Volensky) Gehret and grew up in Bridgeport, Pennsylvania. She attended Bishop Kenrick High School in Norristown where she met Francis in the high school band. They fell in love, got married, and enjoyed the next 61 and a half years of marriage, starting in Norristown and moving to Somers in 1972. That union produced her greatest joy and legacy, her children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren. Her next greatest passion was her love of music. She studied concert piano at the Philadelphia Conservatory of Music, performing in recitals during that time. For a short time she also played the piano in a local dance band with her husband, which they created with band mates. After moving to Connecticut, Andrea composed several hymns, and played the organ at various area churches for a number of years. She was a devout Catholic and a communicant at St. Patrick Church in Springfield. She was an avid fan of the UConn Women's Basketball team and enjoyed attending games at Gampel Pavilion. She particularly enjoyed family vacations in Ogunquit, Maine for many years, surrounded by her children and grandchildren, creating memories to last a lifetime.
Besides her husband Francis, she leaves behind her four children, Mary Beth Garlick (husband Bob) of Somers, Diane Donovan of Ellington, Francis J. "Duke" Donovan, III (wife Jeanmarie) of Somers, and Lauren A. Caswell (husband Jim) of Ellington; 14 adored grandchildren; 10 great-grandchildren (with one on the way in August); She also leaves behind her brother Robert Tarlecki (wife Betsy) of Downingtown, Pennsylvania. She was predeceased by three brothers, Edward, Donald, and James Tarlecki; and her stepfather, John K. Gehret.
Her family will receive friends on Thursday, April 27, from 5 to 7 p.m., at Somers Funeral Home, 354 Main St., Somers. Her Funeral will take place on Friday, April 28, beginning at 9:30 a.m., at the funeral home with a procession to St. Patrick Church, Springfield, for a Mass of Christian Burial at 11 a.m. Burial will follow in Somers Center Cemetery.
For online condolences, please visit www.somersfuneralhome.com
[Published by Journal Inquirer, Manchester, Connecticut, from Apr. 26 to Apr. 30, 2023].
Born in Norristown, Pennsylvania on Jan. 24, 1943, she was the daughter of the late Leonard Tarlecki and Mary (Volensky) Gehret and grew up in Bridgeport, Pennsylvania. She attended Bishop Kenrick High School in Norristown where she met Francis in the high school band. They fell in love, got married, and enjoyed the next 61 and a half years of marriage, starting in Norristown and moving to Somers in 1972. That union produced her greatest joy and legacy, her children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren. Her next greatest passion was her love of music. She studied concert piano at the Philadelphia Conservatory of Music, performing in recitals during that time. For a short time she also played the piano in a local dance band with her husband, which they created with band mates. After moving to Connecticut, Andrea composed several hymns, and played the organ at various area churches for a number of years. She was a devout Catholic and a communicant at St. Patrick Church in Springfield. She was an avid fan of the UConn Women's Basketball team and enjoyed attending games at Gampel Pavilion. She particularly enjoyed family vacations in Ogunquit, Maine for many years, surrounded by her children and grandchildren, creating memories to last a lifetime.
Besides her husband Francis, she leaves behind her four children, Mary Beth Garlick (husband Bob) of Somers, Diane Donovan of Ellington, Francis J. "Duke" Donovan, III (wife Jeanmarie) of Somers, and Lauren A. Caswell (husband Jim) of Ellington; 14 adored grandchildren; 10 great-grandchildren (with one on the way in August); She also leaves behind her brother Robert Tarlecki (wife Betsy) of Downingtown, Pennsylvania. She was predeceased by three brothers, Edward, Donald, and James Tarlecki; and her stepfather, John K. Gehret.
Her family will receive friends on Thursday, April 27, from 5 to 7 p.m., at Somers Funeral Home, 354 Main St., Somers. Her Funeral will take place on Friday, April 28, beginning at 9:30 a.m., at the funeral home with a procession to St. Patrick Church, Springfield, for a Mass of Christian Burial at 11 a.m. Burial will follow in Somers Center Cemetery.
For online condolences, please visit www.somersfuneralhome.com
[Published by Journal Inquirer, Manchester, Connecticut, from Apr. 26 to Apr. 30, 2023].
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