Ethel Hawkins

Ethel E. Hawkins of Mansfield Center, Connecticut, beloved wife of Winthrop Hawkins for 71 years, passed away peacefully on January 30, 2015. She was born July 21, 1927 in Willington, Connecticut to the late Daisy and Clinton Eldredge. Ethel married the love of her life on September 11, 1943. After Winthrop's service with the U.S. Army in Europe, they settled and raised a family in Mansfield Center. Their devotion to one another was an inspiration to many. Together they owned and operated the Village Treat Restaurant in Mansfield Center for thirty-three years. The restaurant was a popular gathering place where many lifelong relationships were formed. Upon retirement, Ethel enjoyed many trips and good times with cherished friends. She especially loved time spent with family and friends at Ethel and Winthrop's beach cottage in Wells, Maine. Ethel is survived by her daughter and son-in-law, Eileen and John Ahearn of West Hartford, as well as her son and daughter-in-law, Alan and Paulette Hawkins of Mansfield. Ethel was blessed with a granddaughter and three grandsons and their families. She leaves Jennifer and Ronald Mott and great-grandchildren, Bronwyn and Ethan of Mansfield; Brendan and Jennifer Ahearn and great- grandsons, Collin and Grayson of Warwick, Rhode Island; Michael and Katie Ahearn and great-grandchildren, Madeline and Graham of Farmington; and Stephen and Jori Ahearn of Dallas, Texas. She is also survived by brother-in-law, Winston Hawkins and his wife Norma of Mansfield and sisters-in-law, Louise Hawkins of Florida and Rita Hawkins of Manchester, as well as many loving nieces and nephews. Ethel was predeceased by six siblings. Earl Eldredge of Willington, Carolyn Bentley of Manchester, John Eldredge of Mansfield, Dorothy Bottari of Willimantic, Florence Burnham of Mansfield and David Eldredge of Manchester. In her later years, Ethel faced many adversities with determination and grace. The family wishes to express their sincere gratitude for the loving care extended to Ethel by the nurses and resident assistants at Emeritus at Mountain Laurel in Glastonbury, Barbara Budd, R.N. and therapists at EXCELLA Home Health as well as for the compassion and support received from the VITAS Hospice team. Her family will receive relatives and friends on Thursday Feb. 5, 2015 between 4:00 and 6:00pm at Potter Funeral Home 456 Jackson St. (Rte. 195) Willimantic. Her funeral service will be held on Friday Feb. 6th at 12:00 noon at First Church of Christ Congregational, 549 Storrs Rd. (Rte. 195) Mansfield Center. For an online memorial guestbook, please visit www.potterfuneralhome.com . In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made in Ethel's name to TheAlzheimer's Association Connecticut, 2075 Silas Deane HighwaySuite 100, Rocky Hill, Ct 06067 or The Mansfield Historical Society, P.O. Box 145, Storrs, CT. 06268-0145.