Obituary for Peter B. Hanley
August 4, 1943 - December 26, 2021
Peter went home to be with the Lord on Sunday, December 26th surrounded by his wife, Sheri, and two of their children, Patrick and Molly and his other three children there in spirit.
Born in 1943 to the late Eugene and Mary (Newman) Hanley, Peter grew up in Winsted, CT where he was a standout student athlete and friend to many at Gilbert High School where he graduated in 1961. He went on to graduate from St. Bonaventure University with a Bachelors Degree in Finance in 1965 before being accepted into Officers Candidate School for the US Navy. He served as a Naval Officer in Virginia Beach, VA for four years. He met his wife of 44 years in Bridgewater, VT where he owned and operated Hanley Construction for 11 years, and they started a family, eventually settling in Simsbury, CT, raising their five children for almost 30 years. During that time, he worked as Vice President of the commercial lending department at Shawmut National Bank before eventually owning the well respected West Hartford Stairs and Cabinets in West Hartford, CT where his true passion lay in custom woodworking. He later went on to start Hanley Builders with his sons and built custom homes in the Farmington Valley region of Connecticut. His love and talent in carpentry also led him to build a beautiful cabin in Belgrade Lakes, ME where his family and extended family spent many happy summers together on Hoyt Island. Peter and Sheri retired to Deerfield Beach, FL in 2012 where he spent several years on the Board of Directors and President of Penthouse Condominiums where they resided. Peter is most remembered for his kind, gentle nature, his caringness and generosity, his loyalty and love for his family, as well as his love and respect for animals and nature.
Peter is survived by his loving wife Sheri of 44 years, his son Colby (Sarah) of East Granby, son Peter Jr. (Kirsten) of Monroe, CT, son Patrick of Granby, CT, daughter Molly of Knoxville, TN and daughter Elizabeth (Bradford) of Waretown, NJ, as well as four grandsons, Eric, Finn, Aiden and Noah. He also leaves behind his brother Robert Hanley of Saratoga Springs, NY, his sister Susan Hanley of Goshen, CT; his sister-in-law, Stephanie Hanley of Tewksbury, MA along with many nieces and nephews who loved him dearly. He was predeceased by his brother, Eugene Hanley and sister-in-law, Judith Hanley.
Calling hours will be held on Monday, January 3rd from 3:00 PM to 6:00 PM at the Vincent Funeral Home, 880 Hopmeadow Street in Simsbury. Funeral Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at 10:00 AM on Tuesday, January 4th at St. Mary’s Church, 942 Hopmeadow Street in Simsbury. Burial with military honors will follow in Simsbury Cemetery. In lieu of flowers the family requests donations be made to St. Jude Children's Hospital where he was a faithful donor. Please visit Peter’s “Book of Memories” at www.vincentfuneralhome.com for online tributes or to watch the livestream of the Mass.
Peter went home to be with the Lord on Sunday, December 26th surrounded by his wife, Sheri, and two of their children, Patrick and Molly and his other three children there in spirit.
Born in 1943 to the late Eugene and Mary (Newman) Hanley, Peter grew up in Winsted, CT where he was a standout student athlete and friend to many at Gilbert High School where he graduated in 1961. He went on to graduate from St. Bonaventure University with a Bachelors Degree in Finance in 1965 before being accepted into Officers Candidate School for the US Navy. He served as a Naval Officer in Virginia Beach, VA for four years. He met his wife of 44 years in Bridgewater, VT where he owned and operated Hanley Construction for 11 years, and they started a family, eventually settling in Simsbury, CT, raising their five children for almost 30 years. During that time, he worked as Vice President of the commercial lending department at Shawmut National Bank before eventually owning the well respected West Hartford Stairs and Cabinets in West Hartford, CT where his true passion lay in custom woodworking. He later went on to start Hanley Builders with his sons and built custom homes in the Farmington Valley region of Connecticut. His love and talent in carpentry also led him to build a beautiful cabin in Belgrade Lakes, ME where his family and extended family spent many happy summers together on Hoyt Island. Peter and Sheri retired to Deerfield Beach, FL in 2012 where he spent several years on the Board of Directors and President of Penthouse Condominiums where they resided. Peter is most remembered for his kind, gentle nature, his caringness and generosity, his loyalty and love for his family, as well as his love and respect for animals and nature.
Peter is survived by his loving wife Sheri of 44 years, his son Colby (Sarah) of East Granby, son Peter Jr. (Kirsten) of Monroe, CT, son Patrick of Granby, CT, daughter Molly of Knoxville, TN and daughter Elizabeth (Bradford) of Waretown, NJ, as well as four grandsons, Eric, Finn, Aiden and Noah. He also leaves behind his brother Robert Hanley of Saratoga Springs, NY, his sister Susan Hanley of Goshen, CT; his sister-in-law, Stephanie Hanley of Tewksbury, MA along with many nieces and nephews who loved him dearly. He was predeceased by his brother, Eugene Hanley and sister-in-law, Judith Hanley.
Calling hours will be held on Monday, January 3rd from 3:00 PM to 6:00 PM at the Vincent Funeral Home, 880 Hopmeadow Street in Simsbury. Funeral Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at 10:00 AM on Tuesday, January 4th at St. Mary’s Church, 942 Hopmeadow Street in Simsbury. Burial with military honors will follow in Simsbury Cemetery. In lieu of flowers the family requests donations be made to St. Jude Children's Hospital where he was a faithful donor. Please visit Peter’s “Book of Memories” at www.vincentfuneralhome.com