Jean Ann Wodecki

Jean Ann Wodecki, 80, of Cromwell, CT passed away peacefully at home on January 16, 2021.  Born in Hartford, she was the daughter of the late John and Anna (Majowicz) Wodecki.  Jean attended SS. Cyril & Methodius School and graduated from Hartford’s Bulkeley High School in 1959.

Jean lived in Manchester where she raised her three children and worked for many years at the CT Department of Transportation. Later, she accepted a position at the JCPenney Distribution Center in Manchester to be close to home.

In her early years, Jean loved playing volleyball, dancing, going to the beach with her sorority sisters, riding up and down the Berlin Turnpike with her friends on Friday nights, and was a bowling champ.  She loved going to the movies to see the latest action movie, shopping at the mall, and gathering with friends and family for breakfast and lunch.  Jean enjoyed doing 1,000-piece jigsaw puzzles, at times completing them in less than a week! Crossword puzzles were another favorite activity, to keep her mind sharp, she would say.  She especially enjoyed trips to Mohegan Sun with her loved ones and close friend, Marie Motta.  She often said the casino made her feel alive and she loved the excitement of it all.  The Wonder Woman slot machine was her favorite!

Jean took great care of all who surrounded her. After living in Spring Hill, Florida for nearly 12 years, she returned to Connecticut to be close to family, soon after taking care of her three grandchildren.  Jean had a huge heart and so much love to give.  Her extraordinary compassion, thoughtfulness, and selflessness touched everyone’s lives for decades and will do so for generations to come.  She was especially patient and kind to all family dogs and cats, no matter what troublemakers they appeared to be.  Jean always found ways to give them some extra love or slip them dinner food and treats when no one was looking.  She especially loved her time spent with family, relaxing at the beach under her umbrella, having spontaneous dance parties during quarantine, and her special day trips with each of her grandchildren.

Jean was a brave fighter whose courage and kindness was truly remarkable.  She is survived by her daughter Monica Botticello and her partner, Tony Chevrette, son Stephen Botticello and his wife Danuta, her daughter Cynthia (Cindy) Botticello and her wife, Shelley Mandigo, along with her beloved grandchildren, Charlie, Lucy, and Jack Mandigo.  She is also survived by her brother, Edward Wodecki and his wife Ginger, of Sun City, AZ, and her nephews, Norman, Philip, and Scott Wodecki, and her niece, Theresa Hoeve.

The family wishes to thank the staff at the DeQuattro Cancer Center for all their care, especially her oncologist, Dr. Joseph McLaughlin. They would also like to thank Dr. Stephen Brown, who took great care of Jean for many years, Dr. Allan Mayer, along with the many Hartford Health Care at Home Hospice nurses and aides who helped care for her so she could remain at home with her family.

Jean requested that her service and memorial remain private.  In lieu of flowers, memorial donations in Jean’s memory may be made to her two favorite organizations: St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, PO Box 1000 Dept 142, Memphis, TN 38101-9908 and the Connecticut Humane Society, 701 Russell Road, Newington, CT 06111. For condolences, please visit:  www.doolittlefuneralservice.com.

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