Jean (Gunning) Buckley, 88, of Hartford, beloved wife of 57 years to the late Duke Buckley, passed away peacefully on Tuesday, January 2, 2018. Born in Hartford, daughter of the late Joseph and Ada (Turnquist) Gunning, she was a graduate of St. Augustine School, Bulkeley High School and the Eastman School of Dental Hygiene. Jean was a lifelong resident of Hartford and a devoted communicant of St. Lawrence O'Toole Church.
After graduating from Eastman, Jean work for several years at a West Hartford dental office. In 1972, she continued her career with the Hartford Board of Education as a Dental Hygienist for the city's schools. The highlight of her career was the opening of the Clark School Dental Clinic, which was both a positive and rewarding experience for her, teaching children dental care.
Jean is survived by a son, Brian Buckley and his wife, Darlene of Newington, two daughters, Joan Buckley and her husband, Peter Richards of Alexandria, VA and Judith Kane of Berkeley Heights, NJ; four grandchildren, Macee and Connor Buckley and Michael and Matthew Kane; a sister-in-law, Barbara Buckley and her daughters, Erin Cannata and Maura DeMonte. Jean was predeceased by two brothers, Joseph and Thomas Gunning.
Calling hours will be Friday (January 5), from 5 to 7 pm at the Sheehan Hilborn Breen Funeral Home, 1084 New Britain Ave., West Hartford. A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated on Saturday (January 6), 10:00 am at St. Lawrence O'Toole Church, 494 New Britain Ave., Hartford. Everyone is requested to meet at the church. Burial will be in Cedar Hill Cemetery, Hartford. Memorial contributions may be made to St. Lawrence O'Toole Church, Hartford. Online condolences may be made at www.SheehanHilbornBreen.com