Westin, Harriet H. 94, of Wellesley, MA, passed away peacefully at home on March 14, 2016 surrounded by her loving family. She was born in Honolulu, Hawaii on April 4, 1921, the middle child of Alexander Gilchrist Hatch and Dorothy Aleshire Hatch. After spending her first four years living on the island of Maui, her family moved to Farmington, Connecticut, and then later to Rutland, Vermont, where she graduated from Rutland High School. Harriet went on to Colby Junior College, and after graduating joined the WACS (Women's Army Corps) and served for three years during World War II as a Radio Operator Mechanic achieving the rank of Sargent. In 1945 she married G. Richard Westin. After raising their two daughters in Barrington, RI, they moved to Wellesley, MA, in 1973. Although they divorced after 30 years, they remained friends until his death in 2011. She had a lifelong love of sports supporting the Red Sox, Patriots, Celtics and UCONN Women's Basketball. She also loved to stay busy needlepointing, crossstitching, knitting and playing bridge. While living in Barrington, she volunteered at Planned Parenthood. She also volunteered for many years with the Wellesley Cooperative Clothing Exchange. For over 30 years she has supported children through the World Vision Organization. She also supported St. Jude Children's Hospital.
But her greatest joy was her family. She is survived by her daughters, Gail van Schouwen, (Jack) of Natick, Kathryn Steel (Rich) of Noank, CT; five grandchildren Kaitlin (Sean) Baker-Hewes of Mystic, CT and Matthew Baker of Groton, CT; Jennifer (Kyle) Tobin of Salem, NH; Jason (Tracy Bradley) van Schouwen of Northbridge and Joshua (Caitlyn Dawe) van Schouwen of Burlington; her sister Elizabeth Hatch (Raymond) Paul of Hampton, NH; and two nieces and two nephews. She was predeceased by her brother, Frank Hatch.
There are no services at this time. Funeral services and burial will be at Arlington National Cemetery at a later date. Those wishing to make a donation in her memory may do so to one of the following: St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, 501 St. Jude Place, Memphis, TN 38105 or online at [email protected], or Care Dimensions Hospice, 75 Sylvan St, Ste B-102, Danvers, MA 01923 or online at www.CareDimensions.org.