Harriet Wheeler

Ledyard — Harriet Atwood Wheeler, 81, of Ledyard died Sunday, Oct. 28, 2018, at Fairview Nursing Home in Groton. She is survived by her beloved husband of 61 years, Richard H. Wheeler.

Harriet was born on Feb. 7, 1937, in Swanton,Vt., the daughter of Harry and Lillian (Layson) Atwood. At the age of 5 she moved to Groton, where she grew up and attended local schools, graduating from Robert E. Fitch High School, the class of 1956. Her first job was working at Union Bank and Trust Co. in New London. After raising her five children, she worked for 27 years as secretary to the two assistant principals at Ledyard High School and was a much-loved mentor to many of the students there.

Harriet was very active in her children’s lives, volunteering as a Cub Scout den mother, a Girl Scout troop leader, and coach for the Ledyard girls’ softball league. She was also a devoted member of Our Lady of Lourdes Church in Gales Ferry, serving as a Eucharistic Minister, in the Ladies Guild, the Folk Choir, and she taught CCD classes.

In addition to her husband, Harriet is survived by her children, Charlene (Romaine) Saunders, Richard (Lynda) Wheeler, Kimberly (Joseph) Campo, Jeffrey (Cathy) Wheeler, and Steven (Angela) Wheeler, as well as 12 grandchildren and 11 great-grandchildren. She is also survived by her two sisters, Arthurlene Provencher and Jackie Hancock.

Her family will greet relatives and friends from 4 to 7 p.m. on Thursday, Nov. 1, at the Dinoto Funeral Home, 17 Pearl St., Mystic. A Funeral Mass will be celebrated on Friday, Nov. 2, at 10 a.m. at Our Lady of Lourdes Church, 1650 Route 12, Gales Ferry. Burial will follow in Elm Grove Cemetery, Mystic.

Donations in her memory may be made to CT Alzheimer’s Association, 19 Ohio Ave., Norwich CT 06360 (www.alz.org).