Obituary of Jeanne Merrill

Jeanne Demoranville Merrill died Monday Feb 20th surrounded by her loving family. Jeanne was born December 12, 1932 in New Bedford, Massachusetts. After graduating from Killingly High School, she attended the executive secretary program at Fisher Junior College in Boston where she graduated with Honors. Jeanne then applied those skills as Secretary to the Comptroller at UCONN. There she met Kenneth T. Merrill; they married in 1952. Jeanne and Ken owned Uncle Ken’s Tastee Freeze in Willimantic for seventeen years, while starting their family in Chaplin, CT. While living in Chaplin Jeanne organized many community programs and activities. These included hosting the local Republican town committee meetings in their home, establishing 4-H groups for the local youth, she was also active with the PTA and Chaplin Congregational Church. In 1969 Jeanne and family moved to Killingly. Jeanne was a very active member at Westfield Congregational Church in Danielson. She sang in the choir and helped host many church suppers and events throughout the years. Jeanne is predeceased by her husband Kenneth, her two sisters Gail Greene of Swansea, MA, and Fay Logee of Danielson. She is survived by her brother Bruce Demoranville of Swansea, MA, her three children: Deborah Merrill, Wendy Merrill-Mason and her husband Roger, and Jeffrey Merrill and his wife Jayne as well as 5 grandchildren: Sarah Roers and her husband Jason Williams, Jocelyn Magalis, Seth Merrill, Stephanie Roers, and Paul Michael Gignac. Jeanne was an avid fisherwoman, frequently going deep-sea fishing with family and friends. She loved to travel and was very efficient, often organizing trips with friends and family. She spent many happy hours with her grandchildren at Alexander’s Lake, where she had been a senior lifesaver in her youth. Jeanne was very loved by her family and friends and had a lively and infectious energy that was evident to all who knew her. A memorial service will be held Sunday March 19th at 2pm at Westfield Congregational Church in Danielson, CT. In lieu of flowers donations can be made to Westfield Church, 210 Main Street, Danielson, CT 06239. Share a memory at www.smithandwalkerfh.com