Aline Ponton Chamberlain

Aline Ponton Chamberlain, 82, of Willimantic, CT and St. Petersburg, FL died Monday, May 14, 2012 after a long hard battle with cancer. The cancer limited her physical activities but certainly not her spirit. She was born in Bedford Quebec, Canada on Feb. 27, 1930, daughter of Raymond and Marion Soulia Ponton. She attended St. Peter's School and Mount St. Joseph's High School, Rutland, Vt. Aline, at the age of 13, was photographed by Norman Rockwell and appeared on the cover of the Saturday Evening Post's Thanksgiving edition of November 27, 1943. She married Franklin F. Chamberlain on July 10, 1948 at St. Patrick's Church in Wallingford, Vt. They moved to Willington, CT. and lived there for many years. She was a member of St. Jude's Church in Willington, CT., and St. Philip's Church in Ashford, CT where she worked in the rectory and sang in the choir. Retiring to St. Petersburg, FL in 1989 they became avid bowlers on Mondays and Thursdays with very special friends. They were married 62 years, and her husband died April 7, 2011. She enjoyed being a homemaker, playing the organ, loved needlepoint, and was a very talented and creative seamstress. She is survived by her sons, Daryll S. Chamberlain of Willimantic, CT. and Kevin C. Chamberlain of East Hartford, CT; nine grandchildren and six great grandchildren; six brothers and six sisters; Maurice Ponton, and his wife Marguerite of Shrewsbury, VT; Theresa Elsesser of Ocala, FL; Harold Ponto and his wife Gail of Williston, VT; Richard Ponton of Selbyville, DE; Mildred Buffum and her husband, Thomas of San Antonio, TX; Arnold Ponto and his wife, Mary Ann, of Orange City, FL; Margaret Singleton of Hemet, CA; Marie Mylott of San Antonia, TX; Robert Ponto and his wife Diane of Rutland, VT; Barbara Lamke and her husband, Richard of New Bern, NC; David Ponto of San Antonio, TX and Mary McDevitt and her husband, Jack of Milton, VT. She is also survived by a sister-in-law Christina a. Ponton of Rutland, VT; and a number of nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by her husband, Franklin F. Chamberlain; a son Franklin F. "Skipper" Chamberlain, Jr.; her parents, Raymond and Marion Ponton; and brothers Raymond Ponto, Jr. and Arthur Ponton. Her family will receive friends and relatives on Friday, May 18th from 3:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m. with funeral services at 4:00 p.m. at the Potter Funeral Home, 456 Jackson St., Willimantic. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations are suggested to Hospice of Eastern CT, 34 Ledgebrook Dr. Mansfield Center, CT 06250. Please visit www.potterfuneralhome.com for online memorial guest book.