Pauline R. Willard

Hartford, VT - Pauline (Polly) Ruth Willard, 82, died unexpectedly Thursday March 12, 2026, at Dartmouth Hitchcock Medical Center in Lebanon, NH.

She was born November 10, 1943, in Lebanon, NH a daughter of Ritchie and Gladys Willard. Polly grew up in Hartford Village where she lived most of her life. She graduated from Hartford High School Class of 1961 and was married shortly after. She raised her 3 daughters in Hartford Village and once her kids were in school, she began working at Hartford High School, allowing her to be home for her "girls". She later went to work at Imperial Printers in Hartford Village before moving on to Dartmouth College, working in Student Housing, Physiology, and eventually retiring from Alumni Records.

Polly was a lifelong member of the Greater Hartford United Church of Christ where she sang in the choir and volunteered in a variety of positions. She also enjoyed spending many summer hours in her flower gardens. She was a very giving person who enjoyed helping anyone in need of assistance and always had a kind word and a smile for anyone that she came into contact with. Her family and friends were her world.

She is survived by her daughters Pamela Bragg (Jim) of Lebanon, Donna DeCoff of Hartford and Dawn DeCoff of Hartford; four grandchildren, Robert "BJ" Boisvert (Chrissy), Brittany Walker (Brad), Erik Daigle, and Katy Daigle; eight great-grandchildren, Desiree, Alexis, Brooke, Cooper, Maddie, Chase, Andrew, and Olivia, and a great, great grandchild, Orion; a sister Evelyn Akers of Renssalaer, NY; as well as many nieces and nephews. Polly was predeceased by her beloved brother, Herb Willard.

The family would like to thank Dr. Lisa Furmanski, Dr. Junie Vale, as well as the Margaret Pratt Community for the care that was provided to Polly.

A visitation will be held at the Knight Funeral Home in White River Jct., VT on Friday, March 20, 2026, from 5 - 7 PM. A funeral service will be held at the Greater Hartford United Church of Christ in Hartford, VT on Saturday, March 21st at 11 AM. There will be a gathering at the church immediately following the funeral.

In lieu of flowers, feel free to send donations to the Hartford Historical Society, PO Box 547 Hartford, VT 05047.

Condolences to Pauline’s family may be made in an online guestbook at knightfuneralhomes.com.