Elizabeth C. (Coughlin) Keniven

Elizabeth “Liz” C. (Coughlin) Keniven, 87, of Willimantic, passed away peacefully on December 3, 2017 at Rockville General Hospital in Vernon, where she had been surrounded by her children days prior.  Liz was born June 20, 1930 in Hartford, CT to the late Francis and Helen (Quirk) Coughlin. She attended Mount Saint Joseph Academy in West Hartford, and St. Francis School of Nursing in Hartford.  Liz married Francis L. Hasson on September 13, 1952 at Saint Lawrence O’Toole Church in Hartford and was married again later in life to Harry Crowther of Willimantic. Liz was a nurse for her entire career, working with the elderly in nursing homes for many years, which she enjoyed immensely.  She later worked with teenagers at Natchaug Hospital in Mansfield, and retired from there in 2000.  Being a nurse and taking care of others gave her life meaning and purpose. Her life centered on helping others, whether it was one of her children or a stranger.  She was always willing and happy to help someone in need. Liz was a generous, kind, and thoughtful mother, wife and friend.  She was accepting, non-judgmental and respectful of others. She had a wonderful sense of humor and loved to laugh and share stories with Harry and their many friends. Liz was committed to helping others in the AA program, which she credited with saving her life many years ago.  She was an enthusiastic and dedicated mentor in the program for many years.  She often said, “There is always someone else who is worse off than I am, so I can’t complain”, and she truly believed those words and lived by them. She enjoyed spending time with her family and friends, gardening and feeding her birds.  She was deeply spiritual and read daily from God’s Calling and the Bible.  She was a parishioner at St. Mary’s Church, a volunteer, and gave generously to many charities and individuals in need.  Elizabeth leaves behind her five children, Celina (Jack) Nelan, Brendan Hasson, Chad (Kate) Hasson, Boleyn (Dominique) Hasson-Alary and Claudia (Gary) Schenck, grandchildren Kassandra Montoya, Cory Nelan, Tom Nelan, Lihlani Nelson, Peter Skipper, Lizzie Sullivan-Hasson, Jake Sullivan-Hasson, Kendall Schenck and great-granddaughter Adela Montoya.  Liz will be remembered by her family and friends as a loving, kind and generous spirit.  She was an inspiration to her children and many others.  She was predeceased by her stepfather Frank Budney, brothers Keniven Coughlin and Melvin Budney, daughter Cindy Skipper, first husband Francis Hasson and her second husband Harry Crowther.  Liz’s family would like to express their heartfelt thanks to the kind and dedicated caregivers at Vernon Manor who took care of their mother in the last few years of her life with compassion and respect.  Elizabeth’s family will receive relatives and friends on Friday January 12, 2018 from 5:00pm to 7:00pm at Potter Funeral Home, 456 Jackson St. (Rte. 195), Willimantic.  Her Funeral Mass will be held on Saturday January 13, 2018 at 11:00am at St. Mary Church, 46 Valley St., Willimantic.  For an online memorial guestbook please visit www.potterfuneralhome.com.

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