Alice Butler Obituary (1936 – 2021) – Hartford, CT

Alice Butler, 84, beloved mother, sister, aunt, grandmother and great-grandmother passed away peacefully on August 27, 2021 at Brookdale Gables Farmington. She is predeceased by her loving husband of 62 years, Harold Butler, who passed away on April 7, 2020 from complications due to Covid-19. They are survived by their three children, Andrew Butler (and wife Diane) of Plainville, Tom Butler of Avon, CO, and Jane Butler (and husband Ian Kennish) of Hillsborough, CA as well as Harold’s brothers, Donald Butler (and wife Priscilla) and James Montague (and wife Diane) of Terryville, and Alice’s brother, John Smolenski (and wife Donna) of Venice, FL. Alice and Harold are also remembered as doting grandparents to Chris Petersen, Keri Petersen Sherwood (and children Landon and Addison), Allie Butler, Sarah Butler Oller, Brandon Craven (and children Jett and Brite), Bryant Craven (and children Micah and Marley), Jack Kennish, and Kate Kennish. Alice Jane Smolenski was born December 4, 1936 to Alexander and Mary (Bober) Smolenski. She graduated from Terryville High School and New Haven State Teachers College and taught for over 36 years in the Terryville school system where she was a beloved kindergarten teacher. She touched the lives of 1600+ students over the course of her career. Harold Albert Butler was born October 15, 1934 to Albert and Esther (Lowery) Butler. He graduated from Terryville High School and joined the army before eventually transitioning to a career in manufacturing management. He was a volunteer firefighter and very active in the local Lions Club chapter for several years. High school sweethearts, Harold and Alice married on June 28, 1958 and settled in Terryville where they raised their family and resided until retiring in 1995. For several years post-retirement, they spent summers in their cottage at the Plainville Campgrounds and the rest of the year in Port Charlotte, FL before moving full time to Summerfied, FL. They spent 2 years in Surprise, AZ near their son, Tom, before moving to Brookdale Freedom Pointe at The Villages, FL in 2012. In 2017, they relocated to Brookdale Gables Farmington to be close to family in their final years. (We are eternally grateful to the wonderful Joan Graham who was their live-in caregiver for their last few years in Farmington.) Harold and Alice loved to entertain and to be surrounded by family and friends. In Florida, they were fortunate to live near multiple dear friends from CT and also expanded their circle to include dozens of new friends with whom they enjoyed golf (Alice once hit a hole-in-one!), cards, and happy hours. Harold, like all Butler men, was an ardent fly fisherman who loved to spend time in the river, especially with his sons, Andy and Tom. He and Alice also loved to travel and especially enjoyed trips that could include some fly fishing (Colorado, Montana, Alaska, Idaho, and The Bahamas among others). Alice’s smile could light up a room and Harold remained enamored of her for their 62+ years together. Both were kind, generous and valued family and friendship above all else. Even though Alzheimer’s stole Alice’s memory in recent years, her smile and hugs remained genuine and heartfelt. We are grateful that she and Harold are now reunited and can resume holding hands and dancing the polka. The thousands of photos we’ve reviewed since their passing have reminded us that they lived a full and happy life. The family is planning a celebration of their lives in June 2022 given current Covid concerns. In lieu of flowers, we ask that folks wishing to honor their memory make a donation in their name to Cure Alzheimer’s Fund (curealz.org).