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07/31/2014 12:00 AMJean Marie Stretch died in Madison on July 29. She was the daughter of the late Clarence and Cathryn Glynn Stretch of Hamden.
She was a member of the first four-year class to graduate Hamden High School. She gave more than 35 years of loyal service to SNET, where she held a management position in the Payroll Dept. She was devoted to caring for her parents in their Hamden home until their deaths. One of her favorite places was Indian Cove, Guilford, where she spent more than 60 summers. She loved children dearly and was never happier than when spending time with young people. She was a generous and loving daughter, sister, aunt, godmother, and friend. She was deeply loved and will be greatly missed.
She was predeceased by her brother Lester (Nancy) Stretch, who taught her how to joyfully play games of all sorts. She is survived by her brother Lt. Col. Donald Stretch of Great Falls, Virginia, who drove 14 hours round trip to surprise her for her 92nd birthday, and made the trip again to say goodbye. She was also loved by and is survived by her nieces Susan (Thomas) Stretch Barry; Jennifer Stretch; and her nephews Michael Stretch and Donald Stretch. She was predeceased by her best friend of more than seventy years Florence (Frank) Basserman Stadalnik, and an honorary member of the Basserman family. She was dearly loved by her godchildren Peter (Colleen) Stadalnik; David (John Mendezson) Stadalnik; Jean (Peter Bowers) Stadalnik; and five “grand-godchildren,” Kristen, Perry, Colin, Lauren, and Miranda.
A Mass of Christian burial will be celebrated in St. George Church, 33 Whitfield St., Guilford, on Aug. 2 at 10:30 a.m. Friends may call prior to Mass on Aug. 2 from 9 to 10 a.m. at the Guilford Funeral Home, 115 Church St., Guilford. Burial will be held in St. Mary’s Cemetery, Hamden, at 2 p.m. To share a memory or leave a message of condolence for the family, please visit www.GuilfordFuneraIHome.com.