Carolann Merrill

Carolann “Carol” Merrill, 78, beloved wife for 60 years of Richard “Shorty” Merrill Sr., passed away peacefully with her loving family by her side on Saturday, June 8, 2024. Carol was born on June 6, 1946, in New Britain, CT to the late Robert Sr. and Eleanor (Foley) Natzke. Carol was a long-time resident of Middletown, CT and spent the last 8 years living in Berlin, with Shorty in her daughter Ruth’s home.

Carol met the love of her life Shorty in high school and married in 1964. They owned the Chatterbox Café in New Britain, where they made many friends. She was also the owner of The Sugar Shack in Berlin and worked for Dattco Bus Company. They built a home in Middletown where they raised 3 children, creating countless memories together. Besides being a loving wife and mother, she enjoyed cooking family dinners, including holidays and picnics, her flowers and gardening, bird watching, Sunday drives, road trips to Maine to get a 50 pound bag of potatoes, rides to the beach for whole clam dinners and most of all spending cherished time with her family.

Besides her loving husband, she is survived by her daughter Ruth (John) Bogden of Berlin, son Richard Jr. (Karen) Merrill of East Hampton and John (Channan) Merrill of Deep River. Her cherished grandchildren who she loved “A bushel and a peck”, Matthew (Carissa) and Alaina Bogden, Crystal Merrill (Daniel), Kelly Merrill, Justin (Christine) Burgess, Jocelyn Burgess, Sean (Cat) Merrill, Kayla Merrill and Sean and Kayla’s mother, Keira Merrill. Great-grandchildren Aria Burns, Vera Bogden and Lincoln Burgess. Her sisters Linda (Wayne) Martin, Donna (Al) Majewski, Robin Sanseverino, Faythe (Walter) Leone, Hope (Phil) Larson and her brother Robert (Marge) Natzke Jr. and many nieces and nephews. She also leaves her beloved dog Sammy. She was predeceased by Uncle Don, mother-in-law Florence Merrill and best friend Sis Olander.

Carol’s family would like to express their deepest gratitude to the Hartford Hospital Critical Care and Hospice staff and a very special nurse Nancy and The Cardiac Infusion Clinic at Hospital of Central CT. Special thanks to APRN Amy for always being available for assisting in our mother’s care. A special thanks to her dedicated caregiver Darlene Russell.

To honor her life, family and friends will gather for visitation hours on Wednesday, June 12, 2024 at Erickson-Hansen Funeral Home, 411 South Main Street, New Britain, CT from 5:00 PM – 8:00 PM. Funeral services will be held on Thursday, June 13, 2024 at 10:00 AM at Erickson-Hansen Funeral Home followed by a Mass of Christian Burial at 11 AM at St. Joseph Church, 195 South Main Street, New Britain. Burial will be private.

In lieu of flowers, donations in her memory may be made to The CT Audubon Society or a charitable organization of their choice.