Jean McKay Burritt Jean (Abby) McKay Burritt died peacefully on September 14, 2014, in Eliot, Maine in the loving presence of her family. The daughter of James A. McKay and Evelyn (Hathaway) McKay, Jean was born on January 17, 1925, in Fair Haven, Massachusetts and moved to Connecticut at an early age with her family, settling in Bethel, where she attended and graduated from Bethel schools.
Married to John L. Burritt of Redding in 1945, Jean and John built their home and resided in Redding for over 67 years where they lovingly raised their family. A woman of diverse interests, Jean was an avid reader and self taught in the fields of art, Egyptian history, music of all kinds, and gardening. She cared deeply about all living creatures and instilled in her children an appreciation of nature and the beauty life has to offer. She provided food and sustenance to countless, woodchucks, raccoons, squirrels, chipmunks and birds.
For Jean, life was a non-stop adventure and in 1965 she founded 41 Realty in Bethel, CT which she owned and operated as an independent Realtor for over 35 years meeting and making countless friends along the way. She welcomed people into her life and touched many with her kindness. Her spirit will live forever in the hearts of those who came to know her.
Jean is survived by her 4 children: John L. Burritt, Jr. and his wife Ann Burritt of Edgartown, MA; Wade E. Burritt and his wife Jo Burritt of Newburyport, MA; Douglas G. Burritt and his partner Shawn Shinn of Eliot, ME and Phyllis LeBlanc and her husband Robert LeBlanc of Bradford, MA. as well as by 7 grandchildren including Patrick Burritt, Katherine Burritt-Mannar, Kara Burritt, Stacey Rollins, Megan Buttry , Michael Burritt and Peter LeBlanc; and 6 great grandchildren including Nathan Rollins, Tyler and Ava Buttry, Alannah, Melody and Jason LeBlanc, as well as her sister Helen Nelson of New Mexico. She was predeceased by her loving husband John, her parents James and Evelyn and by her brother Robert McKay.
Friends are invited to join the family in a celebration of Jean’s life on Friday, September 19, 2014, at 10:00 AM at the First Church of Christ – Congregational , 25 Cross Highway in Redding, CT. Arrangements are under the care of the Bernier Funeral Home in Somersworth, NH for Jean’s friends in Maine where a wake will be held on Wednesday, September 17, from 5 -7 PM and the Bouton Funeral Home in Wilton, CT for friends in Connecticut, where a wake will be held on Thursday, September 18, from 5 – 7 PM. Either flowers or donations in lieu of flowers may be made to : ASPCA, the National Wildlife Federation or the Wounded Warrior Project.