Simsbury Obituary: Ilene Fernald

On June 2, 2016, Ilene Hirsch Fernald passed away peacefully surrounded by family. This day was also the 37th wedding anniversary with her beloved husband Chris.

Ilene was born in Elizabeth, New Jersey, and was raised in Simsbury. She graduated from Simsbury High School, earned her Bachelor’s Degree from Southern Connecticut State University and Master’s Degree from Central Connecticut State University. Ilene had a great passion for teaching children. She spent 25 years teaching at West Middle School in Hartford. She loved all of her students and was always thinking of new ideas and projects she thought they would enjoy. Her students impacted her life as much as she influenced theirs. Ilene had a great love for dogs, the beach, restaurants, and would do anything for her family.

Ilene is survived by husband Chris Fernald, daughter Katie Kane and her husband Michael, daughter Kellie Fernald and her fiancé Tom Hickey, daughter Kimberly Merrill and her husband Scott, mother Linda Hirsch, sister Margie Bidwell and her husband Bruce, sister Patti Richardson and her husband Dave, nieces Anna Bidwell and Brooke and Lexy Richardson, and her three grandchildren Connor and Jack Kane and Allison Merrill. Ilene is predeceased by her father Howard Hirsch and beloved dog Willy.

Donations can be made to the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals. To donate, call 1-800-628-0028 or visitwww.aspca.org.

A service will be held at Molloy Funeral Home on Sunday, June 5th at 10:00 am located at 906 Farmington Avenue, West Hartford. Shiva services will be held at 4 Reed Road, Union, CT 06076 on June 5th from 1:00-5:00 pm and June 6th from 10:00-4:00 pm and at 63 Whispering Pines Rd, Avon, CT 06001 on June 7th from 6:00-9:00 pm.