Harriet E. Giddon

Harriet E. Giddon, of West Hartford and Bloomfield, age 96, passed away peacefully on August 4, 2014.   Born Harriet Ethel Cohen on Jan. 12, 1918, in Bridgeport, Conn. to Max and Lina Belle Cohn Cohen, and raised in Fairfield, Conn. with her sibling Erwin (Cohen) Cole, she moved to the Hartford area to marry her husband of 62 years, Atty. A. Arthur Giddon who passed away in 2010.

She has been a loving, caring, devoted matriarch to her daughter Pamela Giddon Freedman and husband, Roger Freedman; her son, Dr. Richard Giddon and wife, Audrey; her three grandchildren and spouses, Sloane Giddon, Esq. and Dan Ackerman; Devon Giddon and Jason Bordenick; and Dr. Derek Giddon and Carmen Elortegui; and step-grandchildren, Dara and Ross Dyer and son Dylan, and Landon Chase;  her nieces and nephews Merritt and Beth Cole, Wendy Cole, Matthew Cole, Donald and Phoebe Giddon; and cousins Lisa and Cindy Cole.

She attended Smith College and served as treasurer of the 50th reunion of the Class of 1939.  Her career started as the society editor of the Bridgeport Herald until she moved to Boston where she worked for Leonard Bernstein’s father’s company and met her future husband. After they married in 1948, they settled in Hartford where Harriet’s mother’s family, the Cohns/Coles, resided including Cyril Cole, Morton Cole, Ethel Cole, Beatrice Cole and Albert Cohn.

Harriet was an exceptional hostess and an engaging conversationalist. Her warmth complimented her husband’s intellect, and she dazzled guests with her hors d’ouevres and party presentations.  Harriet was a gifted writer, and her notes were appreciated and valued by the recipients.  She had a passion for flowers, gardening and flower arranging. She also was an accomplished bridge player and played for many years right to the end of her life.

In the Hartford community, she had been Vice President of Brandeis Women’s Committee as well as Vice President of Council of Jewish Women, serving as its representative to the G. Fox Service Bureau.  She was a board member of the Hartford Symphony’s women’s committee and served on the advisory board for the West Hartford YWCA.  She was co-president with her husband of the Braeburn PTA, and she was a longtime member of Congregation Beth Israel.  She was a regional leader for Weight Watchers’ during their early decades, working with the founders.

Harriet and Arthur had moved to Duncaster Residential Community in 2008.  Her style and elegance added to her beauty, and she always was seen in full color, coiffed with earrings, bracelets, scarves and lipstick.

The family is so grateful to the Duncaster and MacLean’s staffs for their professionalism and kindness.  Most importantly, we thank Carmen Julien and Antonia Burgos, her two long-time, dedicated companions, for their love and care.

Funeral services were held on Thursday, August 7.  A memorial period will be held at her Duncaster home at 40 Loeffler Road, #TW440 (use pool entrance) Bloomfield on Thursday, 3:30 – 8 p.m., and Friday, August 8, 1 – 5 p.m.  Contributions can be made to: Joslin Diabetes Center, One Joslin Place, Boston, Mass. 02215, or to Congregation Beth Israel Library Fund, 701 Farmington Ave, West Hartford, Conn. 06119.  For further information or to sign the guest book for Harriet, please visit online at weinsteinmortuary.com/funerals.cfm.