Patricia Brewer Briggs Copp, 88, of Mystic, CT died peacefully at home on
September 22, 2021. She was born on January 30, 1933 in New London, CT to Sallie
Lee Brown Briggs and Lucius Goffe Briggs. She attended Norwich Free Academy,
where she met her husband, and then Endicott College where she graduated in 1952
with an Associate of Arts in Journalism.
Patty’s proudest accomplishments were her 58-year marriage, her four daughters, her nine grandchildren and ten great-grandchildren. On January 26, 1952 she married Webster Tirrell Copp in Norwich, CT. Together they raised a family and supported each other through decades of life;
remaining in love and as best friends until Web’s death in 2010. Both Justices of the
Peace, Patty and Web served as co-officiants at hundreds of weddings for more than 30
years; experiences that served as the backdrop for the two books Patty wrote and
published. In 1993 she retired from her decade-long role as Director of Admissions &
Residence Services at Duncaster Retirement Community in Bloomfield, CT.
Deeply faithful, Patty dedicated much of her volunteer time to church, both at Saint James’s
Episcopal Church in West Hartford and then at Calvary Episcopal Church in Stonington
on the Altar Guild, as a Lay Reader and as a committed member of her beloved Prayer
Group. Politically active for most of her adult life, Patty managed offices for a State
Representative and a State Senator, was heavily involved in Gubernatorial and Senate
races, and herself served one term as a Selectperson and as a Representative to
various District and Town Committees. A life-long patriot, one of her happiest memories
was as Co-Chair of West Hartford’s 1976 Bicentennial Committee. Patty was a member
of the Town & County Club of Hartford, where she served one term on its Board of
Governors. A resident of Mason’s Island and member of the Mason’s Island Yacht Club
since 1993, Patty was an enthusiastic contributor who served on numerous committees
throughout the years, and most recently could be seen on the bocce sidelines as
scorekeeper extraordinaire. She was a loyal UConn Huskies fan, wore red every Friday
in support of the troops, and will be remembered for sending encouraging postcards to
friends and family near and far.
Predeceased by her parents, her brother Peter Goffe Briggs, and her sister Ann Briggs Copp, Patty is survived by her four daughters, Candace Jacobs of Mystic, CT, Jennifer Kimenker (James) of Jupiter, FL, Jacqueline Copp of Noank, CT, and Elizabeth Lebel (Fredric) of Mystic, CT; her nine grandchildren,
Abigail Hoffman, Margaret O’Brien, Alison Moseley, Kathryn Hasenfuss, Kimberly Hobart, Carly Ruby, Samuel Moffett, Hannah Lebel and Jonathan Lebel; and her ten great-grandchildren, Tristan, Talon, Mia, Charlie, Oliver, Alex, Henry, Wyatt, Shea and Torrey. Patty also leaves behind beloved nieces and nephews.
A memorial service will be held at Calvary Episcopal Church, 27 Church Street, Stonington, CT on October 19, 2021 at 10:00 a.m.
The family is grateful for the love, kindness and generosity shown to her these past several months, along with the amazing care given by Kat of Center for Hospice Care and Elizabeth of Lighthouse Companions. Memorial contributions may be made to the Center for Hospice Care Southeast CT or Calvary Episcopal Church.