Harriet Pearce

Preston— Harriet T. Pearce, 96, passed away on Wednesday, July 24, 2013.

Harriet was born on Dec. 26, 1916, in Norwich. Being one of three children to Harry W. Tracy (who died just prior to her birth) and Magdalene E. Crosier, (a widow during the Depression era), Harriet shared many memories of her experiences during her childhood years; one was of living at the “Rock Neck Children’s Home” (currently, the United Community Services building).

She held a variety of jobs during her lifetime, including delivering mail for U.S. Postal Service, driving school buses, painting submarines at Electric Boat during World War II, working at a gas station and the assembly line at Thermos Co., and child and house sitting. She retired from The William W. Backus Hospital after many years working in the housekeeping department, preparing the operating rooms for surgery. Harriet is credited for naming the popular Backus newspaper, “The Hospit-Tell,” that is still in circulation after nearly 20 years. After retirement, she enjoyed her cats, gardening, cooking, making homemade wine, and visits from her family at her home on Poquetanuck Cove in Preston.

Surviving her are her daughters, Arlene (Norcross) Dumais and Lois (Norcross) Coleman; and her son, Dennis Pearce. She is also survived by her granddaughters, Arlene Starke and Becky Weirhauser; a grandson, Craig Sullivan; a nephew, Daniel Tracy Jr.; and all her great-grandchildren.

She was predeceased by a son, Frank Norcross; and a grandson, Wayne Goodwin.

It is Harriet’s wish that there be no services.