- Date Of Birth: June 20, 1921
- Date Of Death: July 25, 2017
- State: Connecticut
Fernande F. Watne, our beloved mother, passed away on July 25, 2017. She was born to Henri and Louise Therrien on June 20, 1921 in St. Julienne Quebec Canada. Her family moved to Willimantic, CT when she was twelve years old, finding jobs at American Thread.
It was here that she met her husband Woodrow to whom she was married to for over forty years until his death in 1995. He said when he met mom it was like seeing the sun shine. Mom was a homemaker until moving into her present house that she has resided in for almost 50 years. Fern started working at the Faculty Alumni Center in Uconn when it opened and stayed until it closed. She made many friends, young and old, met celebrities, politicians and people from all walks of life. She held her own with them, but also had a lot of fun. As petite as she was she could be tough when needed, as she proved having beat breast cancer at the age of 42. Fern wasn’t crazy about it, but went with Woodrow when he decided to take up motorcycling. When he gave that up for camping she was much more in her element, camping being a motorhome with all the luxuries, not a tent. They spent many years traveling the country, from New Hampshire, to Florida, to Death Valley. She had a green thumb when it came to houseplants and she made the best potato salad ever. Later on she spent many mornings going to breakfast with her sister and then shopping or running errands. Fern loved to dance polkas, sing and take walks, which she was still doing up until recently.
Along with her husband Woodrow, she was predeceased by her sister Madeline. Fern leaves behind her son Richard and his wife Harriet of Coventry, her daughter Denise of North Windham, her daughter Darlene and husband Stephen of Windham, and her sister Theresa and husband Herb of Coventry. Also six grandchildren Tim, Holly and Ryan Dolan, Natalie St. Germain, Matt and Abby Watne. Two great granddaughters Mina Ishiwari and Julia Watne.
The family would like to extend their gratitude to the staff at St. Joseph Living Center for the care and love Fern received.
