Jeane Phillips Clarke, 93, Old Saybrook
Jeane Phillips Clarke, 93, of Old Saybrook, died at home on April 25. She was the wife of 60 wonderful years to her beloved husband, the late Thomas Blodgett Clarke. Jeane was born in Ansonia on Aug. 11, 1919, daughter of the late Edna Pettibone Phillips and George E. Phillips, Jr. She grew up in Ansonia and graduated from Stone Business College. After graduation Jeane was awarded the position of secretary to the director of the New Haven Philharmonic. In 1940, she took a job at the State Department and began an exciting chapter of her life in Washington, D.C. Jeane later returned to Ansonia to care for her mother. After returning to Connecticut, she also worked for the FBI, and later worked for Westcott and Mapes in New Haven, where she met her future husband.
Marrying in March of 1951, Jeane devoted herself to her husband and family, passing her lifelong love of baseball and the New York Yankees on to her children and grandchildren. She will be remembered by all who knew her for her intelligence and sense of humor.
Jeane was a writer and passionate genealogist. She was also a member of the New England Historic Genealogical Society, as well as the DAR. Making a home in Old Saybrook, Jeane was active in the 350th Anniversary Celebration of the Saybrook Colony. In addition, she was a member of the First Church of Christ in Old Saybrook.
Jeane's family is grateful for the attention and compassion shown by Jeane's devoted caregivers over the last years of her life.
Jeane is survived by her sister Gail Bailey of St. Louis, Missouri; her daughter Carol Feliciano and son-in-law Ben Feliciano of Providence, Rhode Island; her son Jeffrey Clarke and daughter-in-law Julie Clarke of Old Lyme; her daughter Virginia Clarke of Old Saybrook; and seven grandchildren, Asher, Tyler, and Georgia Lawson, Tommy and Polly Feliciano, and Fiona and Una Barrett. She was predeceased by her brother George E. Phillips III and her sister Marion Carpenter.
Her funeral service will take place on Thursday, May 2, at the Swan Funeral Home, 1224 Boston Post Rd., Old Saybrook, at noon. Private burial will take place at a later date. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to the DAR Nathan Hale Memorial Chapter Scholarship Fund, PO Box 124, Cobalt, CT 06414. For online tributes and condolences, please visit www.swanfuneralhomeoldsaybrook.com.