Ellen Pfunder Chicoine, a lifelong resident of Rockville died January 26, 2018, at Hospital for Special Care in New Britain, CT, following a lengthy illness. Ellen was born on February 21st 1934 in Rockville Connecticut the daughter of Anna Mae and William Charles PfunderShe was 83 years old.
She is survived by Joseph Normand Maurice Chicoine, her husband for 64½ years, and by eight of her nine children, 18 grandchildren, and several great-grandchildren. She also is survived her sister, Marie Theresa Konicki, and her brother, William Charles Pfunder, as well as many nieces and nephews.
Mrs. Chicoine lived an active life of caring, nurturing, and service. She was a parishioner of St. Bernard’s Church in Rockville throughout her life and served there many years as a Eucharistic Minister. She was a member of the Daughters of the American Revolution was a figure in local Democratic politics, serving many years as a local registrar of voters. Mrs. Chicoine also worked as a librarian, a nursing assistant, and for a time drove a school minibus for a student with special needs.
Mom will be best remembered for her love of family. She had a way of making each one of her children, grandchildren and great grandchildren feel loved and special. Her gardening skills were second to none. She was blessed with a green thumb and grew beautiful flowers and remarkable vegetable gardens (a skill she passed on to her children).
Mom loved animals of all types, “Mork” the cat, several dogs Susie, Mickey Neff, Sam, Ben and Stephanie, Ted E. Bear and Pepper, Max and Miki and even fed the local ground hog population from her garden. She truly loved vacations on Cape Cod MA. soaking her feet in the Atlantic Ocean, looking for sea shells, claming, kite flying and watching the dogs chase the sea gulls. Her pilgrimage to Lourdes France with MaryEllen and trips for family visits to Colorado and Oregon were all special to her.
We will miss her big beautiful Thanksgiving dinners, Family Christmas and birthdays at Mim and Papa’s house.
Ellen met the love of her life Joseph Maurice in 1952 and married the following year. They made their home on Spring Street in Rockville and raised a large family, seven girls and two boys.
Her children are: Norma J. Marchesani of Vernon, CT; Ann-Marie C. Regan of Kensington, MD; Claudette L. Mayer of Colorado Springs, CO; Paul J. Chicoine of Vernon, CT; Yvonne T. Chicoine of Portland, CT; Jacqueline P. Gregoire of Worcester, MA; Ruth A. Campbell of Lebanon, CT, and William G. Chicoine of Vero Beach, FL.
Mrs. Chicoine was predeceased by her parents, Anna Mae and William Charles Pfunder; her sister, Carroll Ann Pfunder, and her daughter, Mary-Ellen Leab.
Relatives and friends may join the family on Thursday, February 1,2018 from 4-7 at the Burke-Fortin Funeral Home, 76 Prospect st, Rockville. A Mass of Christian Burial will take place Friday, February 2, 2018 at 10:00 am at St.Bernard Church, Rockville. Burial will follow at St.Bernard Cemetery.
The family asks that, in lieu of flowers, contributions be made in her memory to:Board of Education Services for the Blind, BESB,184 Windsor Avenue, Windsor, CT 06095. For online condolences please visit www.pietrasfuneralhome.com

To send flowers to the family or plant a tree in memory of Ellen M. Chicoine (Pfunder), please visit our Heartfelt Sympathies Store.