Arlene Dalton Sherry Spicer
Ledyard — Arlene Shafer Dalton, a lifelong resident of Ledyard, died peacefully June 8, 2020, at the Mystic Health Care Center. Arlene was born Oct. 20, 1931, in Ledyard to Hazel and Harold Shafer.
She graduated from Fitch High School. Arlene worked at Kellems Company in Stonington and at General Dynamics Electric Boat before becoming the secretary at Gallup Hill Elementary School for over 30 years. Arlene married Herbert Dalton Dec. 23, 1950. They built their forever home in Ledyard, and raised three sons.
Arlene was an avid gardener and enjoyed maintaining her beautiful flowerbeds. She enjoyed working in her yard and making flower arrangements for Grace Fellowship Evangelical Free Church in Stonington, where she was a longtime member. Arlene enjoyed family and friends gathering at her pool for summer cookouts. She also enjoyed knitting for her family, showering them with mittens, hats, sweaters and Christmas stockings. She knit over 35 stockings, one for every member of the family.
In addition to many dear relatives and friends, Arlene is survived by her sister, Fay Blocker and her husband Robert of Brick, New Jersey; two sons, Gary and Susan Dalton, of Wolf Creek, Mont. and Randy and Patricia Dalton, of Ledyard; and a daughter-inlaw, Birgit Dalton, of Ledyard. She is also survived by her nine grandchildren; and 20 great-grandchildren whom she loved. She will be dearly missed; and we will all miss those bone-crushing hugs. She is preceded in death by her husband, Herbert Dalton; a son, Wayne Dalton; and a grandson, Jeremy Dalton.
Due to COVID-19 circumstances, there will be no calling hours or other gatherings at this time. A service in celebration of Arlene’s life will take place at a later date. The Dinoto Funeral Home, 17 Pearl St., Mystic, is assisting the family.
New London — Sherry L. Spicer, 56, of New London, passed away Wednesday June 3, 2020. She was born in New Britain, daughter to James L. Spicer and the late Lynda A. Spicer. Sherry was raised in Lebanon, and graduated from Lyman Memorial High School. Growing up, many will remember Sherry as the first girl to play Little League baseball as the first baseman. She also had a passion for soccer which she excelled at.
After graduation, she worked at Mohegan Sun Casino. She eventually moved to Griswold, where she raised her son. She loved spending summers biking around Cape Cod, while enjoying the beaches with her family. Many summers also were spent at a lake house in New Hampshire, where she enjoyed a day kayaking out on the water with her son, Jacob, and his father, Paul, before watching the sunset on the dock. Sherry will be remembered as a warm-hearted, sensitive mother, daughter, sister and friend to all who knew her; and someone who always looked for the good in people. She will be sadly missed.
Sherry is survived by her son Jacob Fessenden; her lifelong companion and best friend, Paul Fessenden; her father James Spicer; and siblings, Michael, Brenda and Nicholas Spicer; and several nieces and nephews. Besides her mother, Sherry was predeceased in death by her brother Mark A. Spicer and sister Roberta J. Caswell.
A celebration of Sherry’s life will be held at the convenience of the family. To sign an online memorial guestbook, visit www.potterfuneralhome.com.