Lanetta Mae Harrington, 75, of Newport, was surrounded by her loving family at home when she passed away this August 9, 2020. While her passing was expected, it remains a loss unlike any other for her family and friends.
Lanetta was born May 28, 1945 in Benkelman, Kansas to parents Virgil & Edna Hatch. She grew up on the Hatch family farm with her three brothers, all who now share in the loss of their sister; Dr. Ron Hatch, Dr. Kenneth Hatch, and Dr. Dennis Hatch. Lanetta would go on to pursue her own career in medicine, attending the University of Kansas at Fort Hayes and earning her license as a Registered Nurse. Lanetta touched the lives of many patients and families, she ended her nursing career while working at the VA Hospital in White River Junction, VT.
Lanetta met her husband-to-be, John R. Harrington, while he was stationed in Kansas while serving in the Air Force. His fateful decision to introduce himself at a dance led to their marriage nearly a year later. They married on a treasured day in Topeka, Kansas on December 18, 1965. John & Lanetta became parents for the first time in 1969 being blessed with the arrival of their daughter Kimberly Hartell (White River Junction, VT). They were equally blessed with the births of their two sons; John Harrington (Newport, VT) in 1971, and Glen Harrington (Silsbee, TX) in 1975. Lanetta parented her children with unparalleled love, sacrifice, and devotion.
Lanetta’s children bore witness to this love and sacrifice not just as her children, but as parents themselves. Lanetta had a deep love and commitment to all of her grandchildren; Christopher Hartell, Kaitlyn Hartell, Buhawi Harrington, Pili Harrington, Neveah Chavez, and Eava Chavez. Whether it was a handmade baby quilt at birth or involvement in her grandchildren’s activities, she continued her legacy as a loving and sacrificing mother. Through her upbringing and by her nature, Lanetta lived her life through hard work, sacrifice, and caring for others. While her life was always centered around these principles, she did have time to enjoy herself through quilting/sewing projects, being barefoot in her gardens, and completing countless puzzle books while eating her blueberry muffins.
No immediate services are planned as the family prefers future celebrations of her life on her birthday each May. Should friends and family desire, contributions may be made in her memory to your local 4-H Club.
We love you endlessly Lanetta.