Elaine Ruth (Ziegler) Hinze

Elaine R. (Ziegler) Hinze died on July 30, 2019 at Baystate Franklin Medical Center, Greenfield, MA. She had recently celebrated her 85th birthday with her family.

Elaine was born in 1934 in New Britain, Connecticut, the eldest child of Herman “Harry” P. Ziegler and Jean Ziegler. Elaine and Harry remained close throughout their lives and had a shared love of making things of all sorts. Building barns was a favorite project.

Elaine was a survivor of the Hartford Circus Fire of July 7, 1944, as were her grandfather William Ziegler and aunt Gertrude (Ziegler) Caldwell who attended the circus with her. Elaine attended the 50th anniversary of the circus fire with other survivors in Hartford in 1994.

Elaine graduated from New Britain High School in 1952 and maintained lifelong friendships with a number of her fellow classmates.  While in high school, Elaine worked for Guida’s Dairy in New Britain located across the street from her parents’ home. After graduation, Elaine worked at the Travelers Insurance Company in Hartford until she married and started raising children. Elaine and her family started out in Ridgewood, NJ, returned to New Britain, then in 1973 moved to a small historic farm in Portland, CT. Elaine loved small-scale farming, raising livestock, and honing her homesteading skills. She was a talented baker, canner, quilter, and seamstress.  Elaine returned to her secretarial career and worked for Wesleyan University in the Biology, Alumni Development, and Theater departments until she retired. She converted her farmhouse in Portland into a very successful bed and breakfast which she owned and operated for over twenty years. Elaine was a wonderful hostess and made many friends of guests who stayed at The Croft Bed & Breakfast. Travel was one of her passions. She visited England with her daughter Amy, toured Mexico with her son David, and the Pacific Northwest with her daughter Diane. She loved day jaunts around all the New England states. In 2003, Elaine sold her farm in Connecticut and purchased a historic Victorian home on a hilltop in Shelburne, MA which overlooked the Connecticut River Valley. She fully restored and converted that home into the stately Shelburne House Bed and Breakfast, which she operated until 2012.

Elaine was a woman of great courage, generosity, creativity, kindness, faith, and strength. She passed those traits to her children in various ways, and they will deeply miss her. She is survived by David K. Hinze of Moodus, CT, Christopher Hinze of Prescott Valley, AZ., Diane H. Kanzler of Greenfield, MA, Amy King of Croton-on-Hudson, NY, their spouses, and her grandchildren.  Elaine’s final resting place will be next to her beloved father Harry and with her daughter Judith, who predeceased her in infancy.

Funeral services will be held on Friday August 16th at 11:00 a.m. from the Erickson-Hansen Funeral Home, 411 So. Main St., New Britain.  Burial will be in Fairview Cemetery.  Friends may call from 10 to 11 a.m.