Rose Marie Willard

Rose Marie (Kamm) Willard, 88, of East Hartford, passed away peacefully on Thursday, September 10, 2015. Born in Hartford on August 16, 1927, a daughter of the late William and Bessie (Pitz) Kamm, she had been a life-long resident of East Hartford. Rose Marie was a graduate of East Hartford High School, Class of 1945 and was a former active communicant of St. Mary’s Church, East Hartford where she was a member of their Ladies Guild and worked on committees at the church. Prior to her retirement she was employed for over 30 years as a Secretary by Pratt & Whitney Aircraft, East Hartford. She was also a member of the former North End Senior Citizen Center in East Hartford; the AARP in East Hartford; and was active in several other East Hartford community organizations. Most of all, Rose Marie will be remembered as “Our Gramma Ro” who was the Matriarch of her family and will be cherished dearly by all who knew her.

Rose Marie is survived by two sons, Charles ""Chuck"" R. Willard, Jr. and his wife, Nancy, and William “Bill” J. Willard and his wife, Debbie, all of East Hartford; a daughter, Elizabeth ""Betty"" J. Chasse and her husband, Bob, of Grand Isle, ME; a sister, Patricia Martin and her late husband, Peter, of Amston. She also leaves seven special grandchildren, Chuck Willard, III and his wife, Robyn, of Manchester, David Willard and his wife, Alicia, of South Windsor, Krista Chicoine and her husband, Todd, of East Hartford, Marcie Pastormerlo and her husband, Keith, of East Hartford, Nicole Chasse and her husband, Hans Christensen, of Orono, ME, Jason Chasse of Grand Isle, ME, Danielle Lortie and her husband, Andrew, of Hawaii; eight adored great-grandchildren, Carmella, Benjamin, and Alexander Willard, Hannah and Jacob Willard, Isabella and Dylan Pastormerlo, Adrienne Christensen; a dear life-long friend, Helen Andriks of South Windsor; several nieces, nephews, and friends. Besides her parents, Rose Marie was predeceased by a son Cliff Willard of East Hartford, and a grandson, Daniel Willard of East Hartford.

Funeral service will be Wednesday, September 16, 2015 at 9 a.m. from the D'ESOPO- East Hartford Memorial Chapel, 30 Carter St. East Hartford with a Mass of Christian Burial celebrated at 10 a.m. in St. Mary's Church, Main Street/Maplewood Avenue, East Hartford. Burial will be at Hillside Cemetery, (Section New B), East Hartford. Rose Marie’s family will receive relatives and friends on Tuesday, September 15, 2015 from 4-7 pm at the funeral home chapel. For on-line expressions of sympathy to the family please visit www.desopo.com.