Jeanne Hackenson was born in Norwalk, CT on Feb. 15, 1927 to David and Harriet (Hall) Prentice. She was the fourth sibling and final survivor of six brothers and sisters. Twins Herbie and Albert were the oldest, followed by Boyd, Harriet, and Donald. She graduated from Harding High School in Bridgeport, CT. Out of high school; she began working for Southern New England Telephone Company, as a switchboard operator. Later she worked for the gas company. After meeting and marrying Clint Hackenson, Sept 17, 1949, she moved to Fairfield and worked at the family automotive business, Harold and Son. There, she did it all! From bookkeeping to pumping gas, transporting cars to mechanical assistant, she co-founded the corporation which later became Mark Imported Auto Parts named after her first son Mark. Her family grew with the arrival of over 16 pounds of twin boys, Craig and Scott in 1956. Her fourth son Neal was born in 1963. All her boys brought her great joy. The family moved to Southbury which became her permanent home. There, she enjoyed working in her own real estate company while raising her family. The tragic accident of her son Mark launched her full time career as his caregiver. A true labor of love, she worked tirelessly to provide for and improve the life of her son with TBI. Lastly, in her later years, she worked at Southbury Town Hall, making lifelong friends in the process. Jeanne had an adventurous nature. When the boys were young, she took all four of them, packed a truck and joined four other families to trek across the Northern US, Canada, and Alaska. At the age of 73, still nurturing, she volunteered to chaperone a school trip, which took her all the way to the Great Wall of China! Her favorite adventure took her and her sister Harriet back to their father's home town in Scotland. She loved to travel with Harriet and Donald visiting her beloved family of nieces and nephews. Family meant everything to Jeanne. From the early countless picnics in each sibling's back yard, to later traveling to visit their children's grandchildren throughout the US, Jeanne reveled to travel and spend time with as many as she could. Her spirit and faith were unbounding. As a member of the Woodbury United Methodist church for over 25 years, she embraced the community as her own family. Working tirelessly where needed, she did anything asked of her. She became most endearingly known as the "Pie Lady". It wasn't uncommon for her to help bake some 25 pies for a fundraiser. Illness didn't dampen her spirit. On her 89 birthday, she cheerfully arrived at the hospital proclaiming the fact. Later it would be revealed that cancer had been causing the digestive problems for years about which she rarely complained. During her final days, she showed optimism and genuine appreciation for anyone she encountered. As throughout her life, everyone was important to her.
Truly, Jeanne was a lovely lady, wife, mother, sister, aunt, grandmother, and sincere friend. She was a beautiful woman who blessed everyone's life with her kind, forgiving, strong yet sentimental, loving presence. Jeanne is survived by her most loved sons Neal Hackenson of
Southbury, granddaughter Sarah; Scott Hackenson of Trumbull, wife Lori, granddaughter Michelle; Craig Hackenson of Woodbury, grandson Bruce Hackenson, granddaughters Leia Arold, husband Matt, great-granddaughter Ashlyn; Becky Legen, husband Joe, great-grandson Joey; ex-husband Clinton Hackenson of Easton, as well as many nieces and nephews. She is predeceased by her brothers and sisters Herbert, Albert, Boyd, Harriet (Bailey), and Donald Prentice; daughter-in-law Jean (Guerrera) Hackenson; son Mark Clinton Hackenson.

Memorials: In lieu of flowers, please make donations in Jeanne's name to: Woodbury United Methodist Church, 4 Church Street, Woodbury, CT 06798

Cemetery: Cemetery Not Applicable

Location: Munson-Lovetere Woodbury

Funeral: United Methodist Church

Services: There will be a memorial service Friday May 27, 2016 at 11 A.M at the United Methodist Church, 4 Church St. Woodbury