Louise (Burdick) Hawkins

Louise Burdick Hawkins, 95, passed in peace on Sunday, January 1, 2017. She was born in Chaplin Connecticut on May 19, 1921, the oldest child of Leon and Rose Delvina Burdick. She had recently been a resident of Windsor Oaks in Bradenton, Florida, but Louise had lived most of her life in Mansfield Center, Connecticut. She and her late husband Leland ?Lee? Hawkins, were high school sweethearts and were married for 69 years before his passing in 2010. Louise and Lee loved travelling, especially on trains, having travelled extensively to Europe, Canada and Mexico, they also enjoyed many years of spending winters in Ruskin Florida. Louise and Lee shared a passion for genealogy; collecting death, birth and marriage certificates for family ancestors dating back to the 1700?s. She was known as the family librarian, if you had a family history question, she probably had the answer in one of her many scrap books, and she loved collecting all things antique and always included notes of the source for the family. Family was very important to Louise and she cherished their grand and great grandchildren. Louise worked for many years in the Mansfield Center Post Office before becoming the postmaster of the Warrenville office in 1974. She retired from the post office in 1983. She is survived by her son Leland Jr. and wife Phyllis of Yarmouth Port Massachusetts, and daughter Linda Hansen and her husband Carl of Bradenton Florida. She is also survived by grandchildren Ryan Hansen and wife Tammy of Wimauma Florida, Eric Hansen and wife Tracy of Bradenton Florida, Chad Hawkins and wife Kristen of Shrewsbury Massachusetts, Matthew Hawkins and wife Marta of Lakewood Colorado and great-grandchildren Casey Leister, Tyler Leister, Tyler Hansen, Olivia Hansen, Adam Hansen, Calvin Hawkins, and Emilia Hawkins. Louise also leaves behind brother-in-law Winston Hawkins and wife Norma of Mansfield Center, sister-in-law?s Jane Burdick of Chaplin, CT and Joyce Burdick of North Windham, CT as well as numerous nieces and nephews in the Hawkins and Burdick families. In addition to her husband, Louise was pre-deceased by sister Phyllis Garrison, and brothers Edward and Searle Burdick. She was also predeceased by brother and sister-in-law?s Harold and Kay Hawkins, Amy and Jesse Inman, Dorothy and Louis Bailey, Willis and Rita Hawkins, Winthrop and Ethel Hawkins, Albert and Betty Hawkins and Virginia Bolduc. In lieu of flowers, gifts can be made in Louise?s memory to: Mansfield Historical Society, 954 Storrs Road, Storrs, CT 06268-0145 or The First Church of Christ in Mansfield, 549 Storrs Road, Mansfield Center, CT 06250-1241. Calling hours will be held Monday, January 9, 2017 from 5:00 ? 7:00 p.m. at Potter Funeral Home, 456 Jackson St. (Rte. 195) Willimantic, CT 06226. The Funeral Service will be held Tuesday, January 10, 2017 at 10:00 a.m., The First Church of Christ Congregational, 549 Storrs Road, Mansfield Center, CT, 06250, with burial to follow at Mansfield Center Cemetery, Cemetery Rd. Charitable donations may be made to:The Mansfield Historical SocietyPO Box 145, Storrs CT 06268-0145The First Church of Christ Congregational549 Storrs Road, Mansfield Center CT 06250