Paula (Shook) Spellman

Paula (Shook) Spellman, beloved wife for 44 years of the late Robert J. Spellman, passed away peacefully on Sunday, July 20, 2014 at her own home. She was born November 8, 1931 in Washington, DC, and was the daughter of the late Pauline (Healy) Shook and Lewis Tyler Shook. Paula proudly graduated from Central Connecticut State University with a Bachelor of Arts degree. She met her husband, Robert, when he was a student at Catholic University in Washington. They married and moved to Wolcott, eventually settling in Rocky Hill, where they raised their seven children. Paula was a communicant of St. James Church and a member of the choir. She was a subscribing member of the Wadsworth Athenaeum, The Hartford Ballet, The Hartford Symphony and, most recently, a founding member of The Legacy Society of the Connecticut Forum. She was also an accomplished artist in her own right, and was a member of both Wethersfield and Newington Art Leagues. Paula loved all of the fine arts and travel as well. She enjoyed summer time in the Berkshires, especially picnics on the lawn at Tanglewood, James Taylor concerts and relaxing on the porch of the Red Lion Inn. She treasured the times spent with her friends Janet Temple, Pat Parente and Maureen Reale planning their trips to an artist colony in Taos, NM, France, Turkey, Austria, Prague, Ireland, and in particular, painting and dining ""en plein air"" at Monet's garden in Giverny. Paula will be dearly missed by her seven children, Mary and husband Fred Viggiano of Newington and Old Lyme, John Spellman and wife Sharon of Wethersfield, Robert Spellman and wife Beth of East Granby, Maureen and husband Patrick Cosgrove of Glastonbury, Michael Spellman and fiancée Fiona Furlong of South Glastonbury, Kathleen and husband Gary Dumas of East Granby and Susan and husband David Poole of Newton, MA. She also leaves behind her brother, Robert Shook and wife Mary Jo of Crofton, MD and two sisters, Mary Moeller and husband James of Ocean City, MD and Carol Shook of Camarillo, CA. ""Grandma Paula"" is also survived by 17 grandchildren, Nicole Viggiano Moleti and husband Daniel of West Hartford, Robert Viggiano and wife Kelly of West Hartford, Allyson Spellman Emhoff and husband Robert of New York, NY, Taylor Spellman of New York, NY, Summer Spellman, Rachel Spellman and Samantha Spellman, all of West Hartford, Sam Spellman of Wethersfield, Jordin Spellman of Hartford, Alexandra Cosgrove of West Lafayette, IN, Victoria Cosgrove of Boston, MA, Nora Cosgrove of Richmond, VA, Kayleigh Dumas, Hannah Dumas and Kara Dumas, all of East Granby and Silas Poole and Jeremiah Poole, both of Newton, MA. In addition, “Big Nana” is survived by four great-grandchildren, Daniel and Sean Moleti and Lucia and Rocco Viggiano, all of West Hartford, as well as 23 nieces and nephews. In addition to her husband and parents, Paula was predeceased by two brothers, Lewis and William Shook. The family would like to thank her devoted caregiver, Bernadette Francis, who is truly an angel.

A Mass of Christian burial will be celebrated Thursday at 11:30 a.m. at St. James Church, 767 Elm Street, Rocky Hill. Everyone is asked to please go directly to the church. The interment will follow at Rose Hill Memorial Park, Rocky Hill. Calling hours are Wednesday from 5-8 p.m. at the D'Esopo Funeral Chapel, 277 Folly Brook Blvd., Wethersfield. In lieu of flowers, the family respectfully asks that you consider a donation to The Connecticut Forum, c/o Ruth Cullen, Director of Advancement, 750 Main St., Hartford, CT 06103. For online directions or condolences, please visit www.desopo.com.