Obituary for Lambert Martin Larsen, Jr.
Lambert Martin Larsen Jr. “Bert”, 83, passed away peacefully on the morning of March 21st, 2014 at the Mansfield Center for Nursing and Rehabilitation with his loving family at his side. His family knows that he is at peace now with the Lord, other loved ones, and numerous pets who had blessed his life with their presence.
Bert was born on December 22, 1930 in Boston Massachusetts. He was the son of Lambert Martin Larsen Sr., who immigrated to the US from Bergen Norway as an adult, and Ollianna Catherine Johnson Larsen, a native of Boston. He also had two younger sisters, Marion and Anne. He often reminisced about numerous trips to Boston from his childhood when they returned to visit family. This tie to Boston also helped to explain his die hard fanaticism for all things Boston, especially the Red Sox.
Bert grew up in New London, Connecticut and graduated from Chapman Technical High School. He then joined the United States Air force. This allowed him to have many adventures across our vast nation including deployments to Maine, Texas, and Alaska. After being honorably discharged, he then returned to Connecticut to earn an Associate’s degree from Mitchell College and a Bachelors in Psychology from the University of Hartford. During this time, Bert had numerous positions within the Connecticut State Park system while finishing school. Upon completion of his degrees, he began a career in Journalism that lasted for 15 years. He worked as a reporter for local papers including the Torrington Register, Manchester Herald and later the Hartford Courant. He then started a 25 year career as a social worker for the Department of Children and Youth Services before retiring in 1990. In his retirement, he worked for several years as a greeter at the guard entrance to United Abrasives. He enjoyed this part time job and thought of it much more as a chance to socialize than work.
His passions in life included family, animals, dancing, playing piano, and music. His free time would be filled with reading, listening to any of his hundreds of records or watching a ball game. Bert had a lifelong friend, Fred, who he grew up and attended college with. Fred later married his sister Marion. Bert was a very devoted son and loved all his family dearly.
In April of 1966, Bert married his former wife and mother of his four daughters, Theresa Mary Coyle Larsen. They settled in Mansfield Connecticut to provide a loving home to raise their family. Bert worked hard to clear five acres with the help of his wife and girls. A new home and barn were built with the help of brother in law Dino Bossi. This provided a wonderful environment for the girls to grow up and carry on his true love of animals. Their home was always filled with many critters from horses, goats, and sheep to dogs and cats. In fact, he would often sneak home a needy animal he may have come across during his day. He made sure he girls were involved in 4-H and Pony Clubs. Friday nights were spent prepping animals for fairs the next day including washing and braiding horses and sheering sheep. Bert would dutifully rise early every Saturday during the summer months to cart all four daughters and a multitudes of pets “off to the show”. He'd be proud for everyone to remember that he was a lover of all living things and that all animals, no matter what kind, died of old age on his farm. As a testament to his love of animals, he remained a vegetarian until the very end.
His children also have many wonderful memories of him coaching softball, shining the car lights on local ponds for ice skating at night, driving to the playground every day after work, daily swimming trips to Bicentennial Pond, annual camping trips up north, sitting on his back on the runner sled going down the snowy backyard hill, and multiple summer trips to the Connecticut shore, which he so loved. He taught all four of his girls how to skate, swim, drive and ride. If was often said that it pained Bert to see his little girls grow up and he wished he could keep them small forever.
He just returned to Mansfield Center for Nursing and Rehabilitation this past week after a short illness. He said it was “all the old crew” when he arrived and found comfort in this when he got there. The wonderful staff at MCNR had successfully rehabilitated him and returned him to his home on several occasions prior. His family would like to thank all of the amazing individuals that work on the first floor, all shifts, for their compassionate and attentive care to Bert and his family. Thanks also to Hospice from VNA for their quick and attentive support and care.
Bert was predeceased by both his parents and his former girlfriend of 20 years and dancing partner, Bibiane Guillot, who died 2 years and 2 days prior to him. He is survived by his sisters Annie Bossi and her husband Dino of Bristol Ct., Marion Larsen Beckenstein and her husband Fred of Guilford Ct., his former wife Theres Larsen of Mansfield Center, Ct., daughters Cecile Mary Larsen and partner Grace Sokolowski of Coventry, Karen Anne Larsen Hawes and her husband Jeff of Mansfield Center, Dawn Kirsten Larsen of Coventry, Ingrid Faith Larsen Hanka and her husband Erik of Mansfield Center, grandchildren Scott Allan Hanka of Lebanon, Noah Zachary Hanka of Mansfield Center, Kyle Melvyn Hawes of Mansfield Center, and many nieces and nephews. His family would also like to acknowledge special caregiver Bonnie, Sherry, Kim, and Scott from Companions and Homemakers who attended to his needs over the last several years and made it possible for him to stay at his home.
In following Bert's wishes, he will be cremated and Funeral Mass will be celebrated at St. Joseph Church, Jackson St. Willimantic, Ct on Saturday the 29th of March at 11:00am. Funeral arrangements are being handled by Bacon Funeral Home. Condolences may be expressed at www.baconfh.com
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Connecticut Humane Society, 701 Russell Rd. Newington, Connecticut, 06111 or on line by visiting cthumane.org.
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Bert was born on December 22, 1930 in Boston Massachusetts. He was the son of Lambert Martin Larsen Sr., who immigrated to the US from Bergen Norway as an adult, and Ollianna Catherine Johnson Larsen, a native of Boston. He also had two younger sisters, Marion and Anne. He often reminisced about numerous trips to Boston from his childhood when they returned to visit family. This tie to Boston also helped to explain his die hard fanaticism for all things Boston, especially the Red Sox.
Bert grew up in New London, Connecticut and graduated from Chapman Technical High School. He then joined the United States Air force. This allowed him to have many adventures across our vast nation including deployments to Maine, Texas, and Alaska. After being honorably discharged, he then returned to Connecticut to earn an Associate’s degree from Mitchell College and a Bachelors in Psychology from the University of Hartford. During this time, Bert had numerous positions within the Connecticut State Park system while finishing school. Upon completion of his degrees, he began a career in Journalism that lasted for 15 years. He worked as a reporter for local papers including the Torrington Register, Manchester Herald and later the Hartford Courant. He then started a 25 year career as a social worker for the Department of Children and Youth Services before retiring in 1990. In his retirement, he worked for several years as a greeter at the guard entrance to United Abrasives. He enjoyed this part time job and thought of it much more as a chance to socialize than work.
His passions in life included family, animals, dancing, playing piano, and music. His free time would be filled with reading, listening to any of his hundreds of records or watching a ball game. Bert had a lifelong friend, Fred, who he grew up and attended college with. Fred later married his sister Marion. Bert was a very devoted son and loved all his family dearly.
In April of 1966, Bert married his former wife and mother of his four daughters, Theresa Mary Coyle Larsen. They settled in Mansfield Connecticut to provide a loving home to raise their family. Bert worked hard to clear five acres with the help of his wife and girls. A new home and barn were built with the help of brother in law Dino Bossi. This provided a wonderful environment for the girls to grow up and carry on his true love of animals. Their home was always filled with many critters from horses, goats, and sheep to dogs and cats. In fact, he would often sneak home a needy animal he may have come across during his day. He made sure he girls were involved in 4-H and Pony Clubs. Friday nights were spent prepping animals for fairs the next day including washing and braiding horses and sheering sheep. Bert would dutifully rise early every Saturday during the summer months to cart all four daughters and a multitudes of pets “off to the show”. He'd be proud for everyone to remember that he was a lover of all living things and that all animals, no matter what kind, died of old age on his farm. As a testament to his love of animals, he remained a vegetarian until the very end.
His children also have many wonderful memories of him coaching softball, shining the car lights on local ponds for ice skating at night, driving to the playground every day after work, daily swimming trips to Bicentennial Pond, annual camping trips up north, sitting on his back on the runner sled going down the snowy backyard hill, and multiple summer trips to the Connecticut shore, which he so loved. He taught all four of his girls how to skate, swim, drive and ride. If was often said that it pained Bert to see his little girls grow up and he wished he could keep them small forever.
He just returned to Mansfield Center for Nursing and Rehabilitation this past week after a short illness. He said it was “all the old crew” when he arrived and found comfort in this when he got there. The wonderful staff at MCNR had successfully rehabilitated him and returned him to his home on several occasions prior. His family would like to thank all of the amazing individuals that work on the first floor, all shifts, for their compassionate and attentive care to Bert and his family. Thanks also to Hospice from VNA for their quick and attentive support and care.
Bert was predeceased by both his parents and his former girlfriend of 20 years and dancing partner, Bibiane Guillot, who died 2 years and 2 days prior to him. He is survived by his sisters Annie Bossi and her husband Dino of Bristol Ct., Marion Larsen Beckenstein and her husband Fred of Guilford Ct., his former wife Theres Larsen of Mansfield Center, Ct., daughters Cecile Mary Larsen and partner Grace Sokolowski of Coventry, Karen Anne Larsen Hawes and her husband Jeff of Mansfield Center, Dawn Kirsten Larsen of Coventry, Ingrid Faith Larsen Hanka and her husband Erik of Mansfield Center, grandchildren Scott Allan Hanka of Lebanon, Noah Zachary Hanka of Mansfield Center, Kyle Melvyn Hawes of Mansfield Center, and many nieces and nephews. His family would also like to acknowledge special caregiver Bonnie, Sherry, Kim, and Scott from Companions and Homemakers who attended to his needs over the last several years and made it possible for him to stay at his home.
In following Bert's wishes, he will be cremated and Funeral Mass will be celebrated at St. Joseph Church, Jackson St. Willimantic, Ct on Saturday the 29th of March at 11:00am. Funeral arrangements are being handled by Bacon Funeral Home. Condolences may be expressed at www.baconfh.com
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Connecticut Humane Society, 701 Russell Rd. Newington, Connecticut, 06111 or on line by visiting cthumane.org.
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