Marian Lois Harlow (Tresemer), 85, of Vernon, CT passed away peacefully on Sunday, March 26, 2017 at Rockville General Hospital with her family by her side. She was born on March 21, 1932 in Osage, Iowa to Frederick W. Tresemer and Verna (Dieterichs) Tresemer. She graduated from Arlington High School in 1950 as the valedictorian of her class and received her teaching degree from Upper Iowa University in Fayette, IA in 1954. She began her teaching career in Iowa where she taught high school English and history classes before moving first to Rhode Island, and then settling in CT. She taught at Manchester High School in the late 1960’s until transferring to the Hartford Public School System where she taught at The Hartford High Annex until it closed. She spent her later, and most enjoyable, years as the school librarian at Kennelly School in Hartford until she retired in 1992.

She was predeceased by her parents, her brother Curtis W. Tresemer, and her husband Charles (Chuck) N. Harlow. Marian was a member of Alpha Delta Kappa of CT, an international honorary organization for woman educators and served as their president, vice-president and secretary throughout her years as an active member. She was a volunteer driver for Meals on Wheels for ten years until mobility issues prohibited her from continuing. She was a member of Trinity Lutheran Church of Vernon where she taught both Sunday School and Vacation Bible School as well as helped run their annual holiday bazaar.

Marian had a keen intellect, a zest for learning, a love of reading, which she instilled in her daughter and grandsons, and a fantastic sense of humor. She loved to do daily crosswords, travel, explore NYC, eat fine foods, and watch her beloved New York Yankees and UConn women’s and men’s basketball teams. Marian loved animals and cherished her many animal companions throughout her life.

She leaves behind her grateful daughter, Amy Harlow Raccagni of Tolland, her adored son-in-law David T. Raccagni, and the loves of her life, her grandsons, Owen Charles Raccagni and Caleb Joseph Raccagni. The Raccagni families of Vernon and Wethersfield, as well as her niece and nephews in the Tresemer family of CA, and her large extended Harlow family of MA also mourn her loss.

Marian’s family wishes to thank the staff of Comfort Keepers of Bloomfield for the loving and exceptional in-home care she received over the past couple years, especially Jenny, Johnnie, Roz and Yvonne. They also wish to thank family friends Jamie Bailey and Candy Sutherland for the friendship, help and love they’ve shown to Marian and Amy throughout the years. A funeral service will be held on Saturday, April 8 at 11:00 am at Trinity Lutheran Church, 20 Meadowlark Road in Vernon, CT 06066. There are no calling hours. Burial will be private at the family’s discretion. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to Trinity Lutheran Church, or to an animal welfare or rescue group of the donor’s choosing.