Mildred H. Bell, 104 of Meriden, Connecticut, died peacefully at Ingraham Manor, Bristol, CT on February 19, 2022. She was the wife of the late Joseph Doran Bell of Southington, and the couple celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary on September 2, 1989.
Mildred was born in Meriden, Connecticut on December 13, 1917, a daughter of the late Lea Rose Paul Hourigan and William John Hourigan, and she lived in both Meriden and Southington all her life.
Mildred is survived by two daughters and a son, Janet Bell Wilcox and William Joseph Bell of Southington, and Carole Bell Crudi of East Hartford. She was also pre-deceased by a daughter, June Bell Fiondella. She was pre-deceased by six brothers, John, Paul, Clifford, Stanley, Clarence and Kenneth Hourigan. Nine grandchildren also survive Mildred: Kim Fiondella Relihan, Tracy Fiondella, Mark Crudi, Earl Wilcox, Lori Wilcox Meter, Kristin Wilcox Astiasaran, Eric Wilcox, Mandy Bell Ruggiero and Timothy Bell. She is also survived by twenty-three great grandchildren, two great great grandchildren and numerous sisters and brothers-in-laws, nieces and nephews. Mildred also leaves many loving friends, including many Grange members around the State of Connecticut and elsewhere.
Mildred was a long-time and active member of the Grange, which she first joined in Meriden, Connecticut on October 24, 1932. She held numerous offices in the Junior, Subordinate, Pomona and State Granges, including being the first female Master of Central Pomona Grange and serving as Lady Assistant Steward, Junior Deputy, and Junior Superintendent of the Connecticut State Grange. She is also a past Voting Delegate of the National Grange. She was responsible for organizing the Southington Junior Grange and served as Matron for numerous years; and, she chaired the committee that purchased the Southington Grange. In 1969, she was chosen by the Connecticut State Grange as the “Granger of the Year” to represent the State of Connecticut. Mildred and her late husband, Joseph, also worked for years on many dinners and chicken barbecues to raise money for the Southington Grange and for the Grange’s “Camp Berger” in Winchester, Connecticut. An avid gardener, Mildred has won dozens of ribbons at Grange Fairs, and was well known for her prize-winning lemon meringue pies. She also shared her garden with others at her home roadside stand featuring flowers and vegetables. Mildred also enjoyed bowling and won numerous trophies, including a “Gold 180 Club Pin” for hitting a game of 187 in duck pin bowling. Mildred and her family have been long-time fans of the Southington High School girl’s basketball and softball teams. It was rare for them to miss a game – home or away. The Bell family provides a “Spirit Award” trophy each season to these teams in memory of the late Joseph Bell and June Bell Fiondella. The family would like to thank the staff of Ingraham Manor for the compassionate and wonderful care of Mildred while at their facility.
Funeral services will be held on Thursday at 10:00 o’clock in the DelllaVecchia Funeral Home, 211 North Main Street, Southington, followed by burial at the Sacred Heart Cemetery in Meriden. Relatives and friends may call at the funeral home on Wednesday from 4:00 to 7:00 p.m. For directions or to leave an online condolence, please visit www.dellavecchiasouthington.com
