Potter, Catherine
Catherine Potter, 86, of Wethersfield, passed away peacefully Saturday afternoon, May 22, 2023 surrounded by her family. Catherine was born on June 26, 1936 in Stafford Springs and spent most of her childhood living in Somers, CT. Catherine's early love of reading compelled her to seek formal training to become a teacher, which she succeeded at by enrolling in and graduating from Willimantic State Teacher's College in 1958. After obtaining her bachelor's degree in teaching, Catherine started teaching 3rd grade at Emerson Williams Elementary School in Wethersfield, Connecticut.
Catherine loved teaching at Emerson Williams and made many friends there including her lifelong friend, Bunny and other teachers that she would maintain relationships with throughout the rest of her life which she referred to as the “lunch bunch.” While many of the relationships she made during her early years as a teacher were notable, none were more important than the one she made with her husband, William Potter, whom she met while he was a first year teacher after just finishing service in the U.S. Army.
Catherine and William got married on April 18th, 1959 and soon thereafter purchased their lifelong home in Wethersfield. Catherine and William then had a daughter, Grace Potter (Morin), on October 12, 1961. Soon after giving birth to Grace, Catherine, William, and her mom began renting a cottage in Westbrook, Connecticut which they ended up purchasing five years later. Catherine and her family split the year residing in Wethersfield during the school year and Westbrook in the summer.
After a fulfilling career in elementary education, Catherine retired alongside her husband William. The couple took the opportunity to travel to her favorite destinations including Jupiter, Florida and Manchester, Vermont. While Catherine enjoyed retirement, her tranquility was short lived – as she took an active role in helping raise her three grandchildren.
Catherine spent most of her older adult life with her family. The group enjoyed doing pretty much everything together including attending services at First Church of Christ in Old Wethersfield, vacationing in Manchester, Vermont, and spending the summers at the beach in Westbrook.
Catherine was a loving wife, mother, grandmother, and great grandmother. She also maintained many hobbies like reading, keeping up with her soap operas, and watching her beloved Yankees/UConn Women. Hobbies aside, caring for and loving her family was always at the forefront of her warm, kind spirit. Her family and friends will miss her beyond words.
Catherine was predeceased by her parents, George and Grace Newman. She is survived by her husband of 64 years, Bill Potter and her daughter and son in law, Grace and Russ Morin. Additionally, she leaves behind three grandchildren: Sarah Gantley and husband Walter, Patricia Berloe and husband Matthew, and Andrew Morin and fiance Kristin, and four great-grandchildren. We are also thankful for her caregivers at Jefferson House in Newington Connecticut that diligently cared for her.
Services will be private per Catherine's wishes. In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation in Catherine's memory to The Keane Foundation at www.keanefoundation.org/donate or the CT Humane Society at cthumane. org/donate. The D'Esopo Funeral Chapel, Wethersfield has been entrusted with the arrangements.
To share a memory of Catherine with her family, please visit www.desopofuneralchapel.com
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