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Elizabeth Anne (Hartung) Brodeur of Old Lyme, and most recently from Old Saybrook, was granted eternal rest on May 28. She died peacefully at home surrounded by her loving children and grandchildren. She was born in 1932 to William A. Hartung, Sr., and Elizabeth M. Hartung (Curtin) in Hartford.

Affectionately nicknamed “Nancy” by her mother, she began her education at St. Augustine Catholic School in Hartford. After her family relocated to Old Lyme, she continued her education there, graduating from Old Lyme High School in 1950. She went on to study at the former Willimantic State Teachers College (now Eastern Connecticut State University), graduating in 1954 with a bachelor’s degree in elementary education.

She married the one and only love of her life, Donald Southworth Brodeur, Sr. in 1954. They met in elementary school, when Don starting courting Nancy at a young age by sharing the vegetables of his family’s victory garden. Their deep love and loyal commitment to one another blessed them with a love story that spanned over 80 years.

She was an elementary school teacher in New London, Waterford, and Old Lyme, supporting her family early on while Don attended college on the G.I. Bill. She retired from teaching after the birth of their third child, allowing her to focus on their ever-growing family. While raising her 10 children, she hosted countless family gatherings, and there was always an open door to friends from inside and outside of the neighborhood. Her family’s roots trace back several generations to Old Colony Beach, Old Lyme, where she continued the legacy of spending summers with her children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren. Later in life, after raising her children, she and Don enjoyed hosting their family for long visits at their winter home in Stuart, Florida. Truly her father’s daughter, Nancy loved to hunt for treasures at flea markets, rummage and tag sales, and strolling through summer craft fairs. She also loved decorating for the holidays and had a great sense of humor.

Her Catholic faith was central to her life and the foundation of her marriage and family. She was a dedicated member of Christ the King Church and Our Lady of Good Counsel Chapel in Old Lyme. She was a passionate pro-life and Birthright advocate, a member of the Ladies Guild Rosary Circle of Prayer, and a CCD teacher.

She was predeceased by her parents, brother William Hartung, Jr., son Timothy and wife Theresa (Sottile), and beloved husband Don. She is survived by her children Donald Jr. and wife Karen (Agres), Elizabeth and partner Rich Kay, Jonathan and wife Susan (Andrews), Christopher and wife Margaret (Randall), Rosemary and fiancé Michael Cairns, Eric and wife Stacie (Skinner), Stephan, Stephanie and partner Thomas Felicetti, and Marc and wife Jennifer (O’Connell); and her brother Roderic Hartung. She will be deeply missed by her 25 grandchildren and four great-grandchildren.

The family wishes to extend sincere gratitude to her dedicated caregivers and the nursing team of YNH Home Care Plus Community Healthcare & Hospice Guilford for the excellent and compassionate care she received.

Visitation will be held from 5 to 8 p.m. on Thursday, June 2, at the Robinson, Wright & Weymer Funeral Home, 34 Main Street in Centerbrook. A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at 11 a.m. on Friday, June 3, at Christ the King Church, 1 McCurdy Road, in Old Lyme. Burial will follow in the Duck River Cemetery, Old Lyme. To share a memory of Nancy or send a condolence to her family, please visit www.rwwfh.com.

In lieu of flowers, please consider a memorial contribution to the Cure Alzheimer’s Fund at 34 Washington St., Suite 310, Wellesley Hills, MA 02481, www.curealz.org; to the Haitian Health Foundation 97 Sherman St, Norwich, CT 06360, www.haitianhealthfoundation.org; or to the Terri Brodeur Breast Cancer Foundation, 187 Williams Street, New London, CT 06320, https://tbbcf.org.