Jean (Sparklin) Hager

Jean Sparklin Hager, 85, of Cromwell, CT, died peacefully on August 19, 2018.  Jean was born on April 21, 1933 in Marshallton, Delaware, daughter of James and Ruth (Melson) Sparklin.  In 1936 the family moved to Rochester, NY where Jean attended school and graduated from Brighton High School in 1951.  She attended Beaver College (now Arcadia University) in Pennsylvania where she met and subsequently married her husband of 60 years, Bob Hager.

Bob graduated from the University of Pennsylvania in 1954 commissioned a Second Lieutenant in the U.S. Army, and was assigned to Fort Eustice, VA, where Jean gave birth to their twin daughters, Elizabeth and Virginia.  In 1956 they moved to Syracuse, NY, where sister Barbara was born the following year, less than two years after the twins!  Jean was a devoted wife, mother and homemaker as the family moved to Pittsford, NY; Darien, CT; and then Orchard Park, NY, where the girls graduated from high school.  During that time she also volunteered with Welcome Wagon and the League of Women Voters, all while helping out with her daughters’ activities at school and church.

Following their move to Glastonbury, CT in 1976, Jean and Bob joined First Presbyterian Church in Hartford, where Jean served for many years as an Elder on the Session.  She also served as a Trustee of the Presbytery of Southern New England and as the Moderator in 1996. Following their move to Covenant Village of Cromwell in 2008, Jean chaired the Library Committee and served on the Facilities Committee for many years.    

Jean always loved to read and made many friends through the years through book clubs.  She and Bob instilled in their daughters a love of reading, music, and learning.  Jean lovingly made many quilts for family members, and more recently coordinated a knitting group at CVOC. 

Jean was preceded in death by her loving husband, Robert Sherwood Hager (1932-2014).  She is survived by her daughters, Elizabeth (Betsy) Hager Lord (David) of Odenton, MD; Virginia Russell Hager of Wilmington, NC; and Barbara Gail Hager of Bridgeport, CT; three grandchildren: Brandon Lord (Renee), Bruce Lord, and Joshua Neiburger; and two great-grandchildren, Griffin and Zachary.  She is also survived by her dear sister, Mary Ann Woodruff (Mary Dispenza) of Bellevue, WA, nephew Jim Woodruff (Jonae) of Portland, OR, and niece Katie Woodruff (Tim Miller) of San Leandro, CA, and great nieces and nephews Rita, Kurt, Jamie, and Tess.   

The family is very grateful to Middlesex Hospice and to all the wonderful staff at Pilgrim Manor at Covenant Village of Cromwell, for their tender care of Jean during her last weeks. 

A memorial service for Jean will be held at the Events Center of Covenant Village, 52 Missionary Rd., Cromwell, CT, on Friday, August 24, 2018 at 2:30 PM, followed by a reception.  The burial will be private.  In lieu of flowers, memorial gifts may be made to the Benevolent Care Fund, Covenant Village of Cromwell, 52 Missionary Rd., Cromwell, CT 06416 or to First Presbyterian Church, 136 Capitol Ave., Hartford, CT 06106.

The Cromwell Funeral Home, 506 Main Street, Cromwell is handling the arrangements. Messages of condolence may be sent to the family at www.doolittlefuneralservice.com

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