Jean Elizabeth (Sturrock) Bruce, 81, wife of the late G. Allen Bruce, Jr. of Wethersfield passed away suddenly on April 30, 2016. She was born in Montreal, Canada, daughter of the late Andrew and Janet (Black) Sturrock. She moved to Philadelphia, PA at the age of nine and was educated at the Stevens School in Philadelphia. Jean moved to Connecticut with her family in 1967, settling in Wethersfield. She worked for many years at Hartford Hospital on the Cardiac Unit as a Unit Secretary and later as an Administrative Assistant for a Hartford cardiac surgeon. In her retirement years she worked at her brother Peter Sturrock’s financial planning firm. Jean was very active in her church, Trinity Episcopal Church in Old Wethersfield as a Eucharistic Minister and a member of the Altar Guild. She happily devoted many hours to organizing church events and made some wonderful friends along the way. She also was a member of several bridge groups, she frequented the theater and was an avid UCONN Lady Huskies basketball fan. She made an annual pilgramage to the US Open Tennis Tournament, and never missed a major golf tournament on television. Jean thoroughly enjoyed life and touched the heart of anyone she met.
She made entertaining look effortless with her expertise in the kitchen and if you came to a dinner at Jean's house she always made you feel right at home. It didn't matter if it was a gourmet meal or a backyard BBQ, her meals were memorable. Easter dinner will never be the same without Gramma's famous Mac and Cheese. New friends quickly became old friends and she held them close to her heart her entire life. Her children and grandchildren and new great grandson were her pride and joy and brought her so much happiness. She spent many hours playing board games, cards and doing jigsaw puzzles with her grandchildren connecting with them and creating memories for years to come.
Jean will be forever remembered for her unconditional love of her family and friends, and for the positivity she radiated even in the face of hardship. She wasn't just the life of the party; she was the party. A truly one of a kind person, she drew people to her with her kindness, warmth, laughter and infectious love of life. A devoted mother, grandmother, great-grandmother, aunt and friend, it is impossible to measure the void her loss has created in so many lives.
She leaves her three children, son David Blanzaco and wife Sondra of Wethersfield, daughter Suzanne Isaksen and husband Robert of East Setauket, NY, and son Scott Bruce and wife Lillian of Hartford. She will also be remembered by her 6 grandchildren, Meredith Zoll (Bryan), Caroline Blanzaco (Christian), Galen Blanzaco, Erik, Kristofer and Lyndsay Isaksen and great grandson Friedrich Zoll, her brother & sister-in-law Ian & Mary Sturrock , sister-in-law Betsy Sturrock, nieces Pam Faherty and Allison Logue , and niece and goddaughter Sarah Fleming. Besides her husband, Jean is predeceased by her brother Peter Sturrock.
A Memorial Service celebrating Jean’s life will be held Monday, May 9th at 1pm at Trinity Episcopal Church, 300 Main St. Wethersfield, CT with a reception in the church hall immediately following from 2-4pm. Burial will be private. In lieu of flowers donations can be made to Trinity Episcopal Church or a charity of your choice.