Barbara W. Algren, 85; Worked with Her Husband To Manage the Granby Police Department

From Carmon Community Funeral Homes.

Barbara (Westlake) Algren, 85, of Suffield, formerly Granby, beloved wife of the late Donald R. Algren, died peacefully Friday, April 10, 2015, on her husband’s birthday.

Born October 9, 1929, in Wakefield, RI, Barbara was the daughter of the late Joseph and Margaret (Henderson) Westlake.

She and Donald were married on May 12, 1948 in Wickford, R.I. where Donald worked as a member of the North Kingstown Police Department. They moved to Granby in May of 1956. In 2006, Barbara moved to Suffield after the death of her husband.

In 1959 the Granby Police Department was formed, and Barbara, along with her husband, former Granby Police Chief Donald R. Algren, was very instrumental in running the Granby Police Department. For 15 years Barbara worked out of her home answering the Police phone, dispatching calls to her husband through Troop H in Hartford, keeping all log books up to date, and doing whatever else was needed during that time. They were on call 24/7 until the Town of Granby hired a full time dispatcher, at which time the police phone and bank burglar alarm were finally disconnected from the family’s home.

Barbara was a very devoted mother and grandmother who enjoyed spending time with her family and being outdoors. She was a tremendous cook and her apple bread is still a family holiday favorite.

She is survived by two daughters, Donna Mooney of Dunedin, FL; Gayl (Dennis) Purinton of Granby; and a son, Scott (Keli) Algren of Grand Ledge, MI; six grandchildren, Erin (John) Fitzgerald, Andrea (Kim) Mooney, Michael Purinton ( Barbara Cudworth), Karen (Jay) Humes, Cindy (Keyuawn) Hall, and Todd Algren (Aimee Hill) ; 9 great grandchildren. She also leaves a brother, Joseph (Gloria) Westlake; a sister-in-law, Florence Westlake and many nieces and nephews.

In addition to her parents and her step-father, Felix Barrs, she was predeceased by her brother, William Westlake.

Funeral service will be private with burial in Granby Cemetery.

Special thanks to all the staff at the Suffield House for the care given to Barbara.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to The Suffield House in care of the Recreation Dept. 1 Canal St. Suffield, CT 06078, or to Copper Hill Methodist Church, PO Box 422, East Granby, CT. 06026.