Jean May

Jean Blease May, 90, of Wethersfield and Newington, wife of the late Congressman Edwin H. May, Jr. for 55 years, passed away peacefully at Jefferson House on February 19, 2016. The daughter of the late Dorothy (Smith) Blease and Douglas A. Blease, she had lived in Wethersfield most of her life and in later years spent many wonderful winters in Stuart, FL, before returning full-time to Connecticut. As a young girl in Hartford, she attended the Southwest School, The Chaffee School, and graduated from Wethersfield High School. She attended the University of Connecticut where she was a member of Kappa Alpha Theta sorority. A special mother, grandmother and great-grandmother, she will be dearly missed by her three children, Edwin “Ted” May and wife Debbie of Wethersfield, Laura and husband Bruce McDonell of New Harmony, UT, Lisa and husband Sam Cusano of Rocky Hill; five loving grandchildren, Heather and husband Mike Eckert of Lakeville, CT, Edwin “Ned” May and wife Barbara of Darien, CT, Kevin D. May, Courtney Jean Cusano, and Sam J. Cusano, all of Rocky Hill. She was fondly known as GiGi to her four great-grandchildren, Cormac and Reece Eckert, and Teddy and Eliza May. Besides her husband and parents, she was predeceased by her sister “Boo” Littlefield and brother-in-law “Hap” Barnes. She leaves her brother-in-law Stanley Littlefield, sister-in-law Elizabeth “Bet” Barnes, sister-in-law Janice Splaine and husband Frank, and numerous nieces and nephews. Jean and Ed began their married life together at Wesleyan University following WWII. Jean worked in the admissions office and they started their family while house parents at the Chi Psi Fraternity. After Wesleyan, they moved back to Wethersfield where they raised their family and enjoyed special times with hometown friends. Jean supported Ed throughout years of business and politics, from Jaycee conventions to political campaigns to Washington D.C. Many of their lifelong friends grew out of the years as Jaycee volunteers through various civic projects, especially the Insurance City Open/GHO golf tournament. Ed and Jean were members of Wethersfield Country Club for over 50 years. Jean was the consummate lady and hostess, affectionately referred to by friends as the “Perle Mesta” of Wethersfield. Throughout the years Jean remembered every birthday, anniversary and occasion for every person in her world, and acknowledged each with a card. Den mother, brownie leader and school library volunteer, she was always there to support her children. She was also a devoted daughter, caring for her own mother in later years. As grandchildren arrived, Jean lived for their visits to “Camp Mariner Sands” during the winter, and loved her summers with them in Connecticut. A memorial service celebrating her life will be observed Wednesday at 11 am at The First Church of Christ, 250 Main St., Wethersfield, where she was a member for over 75 years. Burial will be private, and there will be no calling hours. In lieu of flowers, donations in Jean’s memory may be made to The First Tee of Connecticut May Family Fund, 55 Golf Club Road, Cromwell, CT 06416. www.thefirstteect.org The family wishes to sincerely thank the thoughtful and caring staff at Jefferson House in Newington for their love and compassion. For on-line expressions of sympathy, please visit www.desopo.com