CHESHIRE- Mary Elizabeth (Andresen) Hackett, 85, passed away Saturday October 17, 2015 at her home with family. She is survived by her husband Thomas P. Hackett and her beloved brother George Andresen
Mary Elizabeth “Betsy” was born January 6, 1930 in Brooklyn, NY daughter George and Mary (Healy) Andresen. She attended St Theresa of Avila Grammar School and graduated in 1947 from Mary Louise Academy. She was admitted to Juilliard in the summer of ’43 but was unable to attend due to a profound hearing loss incurred during a water rescue. A Scholarship to Albertus Magnus College was awarded and she graduated in 1951.
Upon graduation she worked in the US Rubber Company World Headquarters -Public Relations office.
Betsy and Thomas were married June 21, 1952. She began teaching at Highland School, and went on to be a Special Education teacher in the Watertown School System.
Betsy was a beloved member of the Watertown School System working as a Director of Special Services retiring in 2008. Throughout her retirement years she kept up her lifelong love of learning and teaching: taking classes, teaching CCD, volunteering at St. Thomas More soup kitchen among other organizations and especially loving her grandchildren.
Children: Thomas Hackett of Essex Junction, VT, Paul and his wife Regina Hackett of Cheshire, and Patrick and his wife Jennifer Hackett of Cheshire; three daughters Mary Jean and her husband Joseph Crisco of Barrington, RI, Katie Hackett-Lima and her husband Tedd Lima of Cheshire, and Maura and her husband Michael Federico of Cheshire; her brother George and his wife Jane Andresen of New Jersey; and her grandchildren Kaleigh, Meghan, Rachel, Michael, Erin, Casey Elizabeth, Patrick, Spencer, Maggie, Tyler, Natalie, Kathleen, Michelle, Joseph, Hannah, Matthew, Sawyer, Cameron, and Chase.
Arrangements- A mass to celebrate her life will be held 10 A.M Tuesday October 20, 2015 at St. Thomas More Church, 268 Park St, New Haven, CT 06511. Family and friends are asked to meet directly at church. Calling hours will be held in church from 9 A.M until the start of the funeral mass. At the request of her family memorial contributions may be made to St. Thomas More.