Theresa Mary (Coyle) Larsen

Theresa Mary Coyle Larsen, 79, of Mansfield, CT passed away on January 9, 2023. She was born in Norwich, CT at Backus Hospital, the daughter of Raymond Francis Coyle and Beatrice Margaret (Marchand) Coyle. She grew up on Canterbury Turnpike with her four siblings and had countless fond memories. These were personally documented in her “personal archives”. Her childhood was filled with gardening, outdoor play, ballet and piano lessons. She frequently told tales of many winter afternoons spent ice-skating.

Theresa attended elementary school in Norwich; John Mason and Samuel Huntington. She walked to and from school each day with her siblings and friends. For high school, she attended The Holy Family Academy in Baltic, CT. This experience had her contemplate the idea of becoming a nun. Fortunately for all of her children, her mother forbade it, stating that she was “too young to make such decisions”. Instead, Theresa went on to earn her bachelor’s degree in Sociology from Barry University in Miami, FL, in 1965. At the time, it was an all-girls Catholic College.

After graduating, she returned home to Connecticut and began work at the Department of Children and Youth Services in Norwich. It was here that Theresa met her husband, Lambert Martin Larsen. They were married on April 9, 1966. They traveled initially, heading out to see more of the country, especially the Rockies and much of Colorado. Upon return, they settled in Manchester, CT, where their first two daughters were born. They then moved to Mansfield, where the two youngest were born. In 1979, Theresa and her husband bought a 5-acre parcel of land in Mansfield which would serve as the family home for more than 25 years.

She took on raising her daughters and running the household as her primary job through her twenties and thirties. Making everything from scratch, she was an amazing cook and baker. Dinner was always on the table promptly at 5pm. Theresa worked tirelessly on the upkeep of her home and caring for her family. She had a great deal of pride in both. Nothing meant more than family and home.

While raising her girls, she kept very busy doing other jobs, including running a licensed at-home day care for over ten years. Theresa also worked from home to help fill a new elderly housing complex in Mansfield.

In 1984, she returned to the working world and began her 19-year career with the Department of Mental Health and Addiction Services. During this time, she would wake early in the morning, always completing a days’ worth of work before leaving to work 2nd shift. She always worked more than she rested in those years, determined to scrimp and save any money that she could to spend on her girls and her grandsons.

Theresa led a life full of sacrifice and volunteering. Beginning with her lifelong commitment to the Catholic church. Her family doesn’t remember a time when she wasn’t involved in the St. Mary’s-St. Josephs’ choir. (Coventry/Eagleville, CT.) She also played organ for St. Joseph’s for many years. Theresa would often take her curious girls up with her to witness mass from high above.  For approximately 10 years, she served as an Extraordinary Minister of Holy Communion for the residents at the Mansfield Training School in the 1980’s.

Later in her life she began attending St. Thomas Aquinas in Storrs, until she was no longer physically able to do so. She appreciated the more “youthful vibe”. During the last three years on this earth, she always participated in the weekly mass and prayer groups at her residence.

Starting in 2003, because of her endless love of God and curiosity, Theresa also became a member of Spiritual Life Fellowship, on Wethersfield Avenue in Hartford. Throughout her time there she made many new friends and found new ways to share God’s love. Theresa met her best friend, Sister Dorothea there. Dorothea would often say “Theresa is like a sister to me. I love her so much”. Her involvement with the Fellowship also allowed her to demonstrate her immense generosity towards her fellow humans. Attending weekly public dinners in Hartford, Theresa would always cook large amounts of food for the church that would then open their doors to feed the less fortunate. At Easter, she would make no less than 10 Easter baskets, filled with toys and goodies to share with youths in Hartford. Halloween and Christmas brought out the same spirit of giving from her. She would return home filled with joy for all the smiles she helped to bring to other people.

Theresa was a fan of all thing’s sports, New England and UConn that is. Developing this love during her youth by listening to sports on the radio with her father and brothers. We would often joke that she had a phone line directly into the Red Sox dugout, and that if they only listened to her, they could win more games. She could tell you any stat on any player, even on opposing teams.

Her spirit was HUGE and it shined throughout her entire life. She sprinkled it to those around her with love and smiles. She loved to travel and explored the entire East Coast, often bringing her grandchildren along for the ride. In her free time, she enjoyed coloring, doing puzzles, playing piano, and of course, being with family.

She is survived by her daughters; Cecile Larsen and her partner Sharon Fors of Coventry, Karen Hawes and her husband Jeff of Mansfield, Dawn Larsen of Windham, and Ingrid Hanka and her husband Erik of Mansfield; Grandsons Scott Hanka of Lebanon, Noah Hanka of Mansfield and Kyle Hawes of Mansfield; Her brother Paul Coyle and his wife Barbara of Middletown, Margaret Moreau of South Dennis, Massachusetts, Bonnie Holmes of Norwich, and many nieces and nephews.

Theresa was predeceased by her parents Raymond and Beatrice Coyle, brother Captain Joseph Coyle, and her husband Lambert.

The family would like to extend their immense gratitude to the Family Centered ICU at Hartford Hospital where Theresa spent the final 34 days of her life. Every member of the team demonstrated great skill, competence, an undeniable compassion for Theresa and her family. There was an unwavering desire to adhere to Theresa’s wishes. They had her smiling to the very end.

In addition, the family would like to thank Sharon Pelletier and Mike Lavallee for their warm and thoughtful care over the past three years. Your dedication to your jobs, and your ability to see our mother as a person and a friend meant the world to her. She loved you both dearly.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made to Hands on Hartford, 55 Bartholomew Ave. Hartford, CT or at https://handsonhartford.org/. This will help to continue her passion to serve the less fortunate in our own state or to Unbound https://www.unbound.org/ChildSponsorship/Catholic?gclid=EAIaIQobChMIkeekrcK9_AIVz8qUCR35wwt5EAAYAiAAEgIx7_D_BwE&gclsrc=aw.ds Unbound is a charity Theresa donated to monthly for years. Her donations saw several children in disadvantaged countries to adulthood. Receiving their letters always brought a smile to her face.

There will be no calling hours. Theresa’s Funeral Mass will be on Saturday, January 14, 2023 at 10:00am at St. Thomas Aquinas Chapel, 46 N. Eagleville Rd. Storrs with her burial following at St. Mary’s Cemetery in Coventry, CT. 

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