Mrs Thelma Mae Backe Obituary - Visitation & Funeral Information

On May 9, 2015 our mother Thelma left us to be reunited with her husband Austin S. Backe, her parents Ethel and Charley Pratt, her sister Norma Pandiani, her brothers Lawrence Pratt and Edgar Pratt, her daughter-in-law June Forestaire Backe, her sister-in-law Edla Backe Pomroy and her grandson John Stevens. Mom was born August 18, 1917 in Hyde Park VT and was the oldest of 5 children. She is survived by the youngest, Vera Pratt Zimmer and her husband "Zim". Mom graduated from Durham High School and was Valedictorian of her class. In 1941, after marrying our father whom she met on a blind date, she moved to Rocky Hill which was her home for the rest of her life. She raised the four of us, Grace Stevens, Richard Backe, Lillian Carter and Natalie Harbeson to love music, reading and tried to teach us proper grammar (some of us learned better than others). She loved to sing and collected silly songs that she would share with whoever would listen. She listened with her heart and one felt better after telling her your problems. Most of all she taught us to face life's challenges with optimism and determination. Our mother walked home during the beginning of the 1938 Hurricane with trees crashing around her, learned to drive when she was 50, survived 3 different types of cancers and other serious illnesses and greeted each day with a smile on her face. Mom warmly embraced her son-in-law Ronald Carter, her daughter-in-law June and Natalie's fiancé Fred Berner into the family as well as the spouses of each of her grandchildren. One of her greatest joys was being the grandmother of John Stevens, Peter Stevens, Elisabeth (Beth) Stevens, Andrew Stevens, Scott Carter, Matthew Backe, Kaat Harbeson, Kristi Carter Levesque, Cynthia Harbeson, Sarah Backe, Toni Backe and Jennifer Backe. In addition to her 12 grandchildren she has 7 great grands who she called "the icing on the cake". Mom also loved being an aunt to her numerous nieces and nephews. Although Mom's primary focus was her family, she was an active member of the Rocky Hill Congregational Church, UCC until her health prevented her from attending. She was a Past Matron of Stepney Chapter OES and Bellville Chapter OES #16, a past Royal Matron of Chatham Court # 24 OOFA, a member of Aisha Temple #83 Daughters of the Nile and past Chief of Alison J. Smith Temple of Pythian Sisters. Her ability to project her voice and to read dramatically was much appreciated in these organizations and she took great pride in that ability. A Celebration of her Life will be held at the Rocky Hill Congregational Church UCC, 805 Old Main Street, Rocky Hill CT on May 31, 2015 at 2:00 pm. A reception will follow the service in Chapin Hall. We would like to extend our deepest appreciation to Mom's caregivers at Apple Rehab. Friends are invited to donate to the Shriners' Hospitals for Children, 516 Carew St, Springfield MA 01104-2396 or to a charity of one's choice . And the next time you hear a silly song, I hope you think of our mother.

Mrs Thelma Mae Backe

August 18, 1917 - May 9, 2015