Obituaries

Mary E. Hanlon

Published: Dec 18, 2025 3:00 pm

Mary E. Hanlon, 76, of Newtown, known for her boundless generosity and energy, passed away suddenly at her home on December 11, 2025, with her husband, Tom Hanlon, by her side.

Born in Ecuador, Mary carried the warmth and vibrancy of her heritage to the United States, where she later achieved her dream of becoming a US Citizen. She was raised in Stamford, and later moved to Danbury, where she raised her family. Mary consistently demonstrated dedication, responsibility, and commitment to hard work throughout her life. She worked at Davis and Geck for 25 years and later became a certified licensed hairdresser. She has been a resident of Newtown for the past 30 years.

Her dedication to her community was unmatched. She was known to be a fiercely independent and strong-willed woman who never hesitated to speak her mind — a quality that made her both a formidable presence and a loyal friend. She would be the first person to volunteer or offer you assistance. If you needed a "mobile" haircut, she had her clippers and shears nearby, ready to oblige. She was such a devoted and dutiful daughter, it would only take her seconds to jump into her car and rush to Stamford if family needed her — or not. Her energy was enormous. Even in retirement, she refused to slow down. If she wasn't at home crocheting, you could find her at Newtown Senior Center line dancing with her friends. You may have also seen her drive passed you in the Newtown Volunteer Ambulance Corps medic truck or ambulance responding to a call. You could have also seen her marching down Main Street during the Newtown Labor Day Parade. Mary was remarkable. She was able to check off all the major items on her bucket list by traveling back to Ecuador to see her roots and family, swim with the dolphins in Cancun, and participate in the Newtown First Responders Polar Plunge.

Mary’s legacy of strength, service, and "showing up" for others will be deeply missed by the Newtown community and all who knew her.

Mary is survived by her loving husband, Tom Hanlon; daughter Gina (Farley) Higgins; son Gerard Andrew Farley, his wife Jennifer (Carsono) Farley, grandchildren Max and Sabina Farley; brother Robert Simmel; sister Adele Szymanowski and her partner Michael Koda; and stepfather Ryder Simmel.

She was preceded in death by her mother, Margarita Simmel, in 2022.

A celebration of Mary’s life will take place at a later date.

Honan Funeral Home, 58 Main Street in Newtown, is serving the family.

Mary E. Hanlon, 76, of Newtown, known for her boundless generosity and energy, passed away suddenly at her home on December 11, 2025, with her husband, Tom Hanlon, by her side.

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My darling, You were the best GRANDmother a child could ask for. You created so many great memories & traditions that I have passed down to your Great grandchildren. You brought joy into every room you stepped into. Your laughter, singing, whistling and the signature Rockettes high kicks, is something I will always hold in my heart. There was something about walking into your home and being greeted by your beautiful face. *kiss on each check* followed by HELLOOOOOO Darling! The classical music playing softly in the background and your love and comfort made your home, a safe space. Somewhere, where love knew no boundaries. It was so much more than a home. I aim for the same in my home, and play the classic music 24/7, but it will never be the same. I pray I can be 1/4 of GRAND, you put in GRANDmother. You were so resilient. You found the positive in every situation. I look up to you so much. I remember begging Mom and Dad for years to change my name to “Carmen”. They didn’t officially change my name, but eventually started calling me “Carmenita” as I am a little you. THE HONOR. You were there for me, no matter the day or hour. You were always the one who would talk me through whatever hard situation I was going through. When my baby passed away, I refused to talk to anyone for 3 weeks. Except for you. You said to me “Better days are coming, babes. There’s always a rainbow after the storm”. Of course, you were right, because you are GRAND. I picture you in heaven dancing and laughing with him. Uncle Jay playing the money game with him. To know you are with your children again & with mine does bring me some joy. Twas the night before Christmas & New Year’s Eve, will never be the same. Another tradition you created. A memory that will last forever. Not just with me, but for generations to come. It may not be the same, but we won’t let it die. It will live on, in your name. To be your first GRANDchild was a blessing. I could write an entire book about you & all the amazing things about you. Even though we were robbed of time together & it makes me angry, I know I will see you again. This isn’t a goodbye, but a “see you later”. Just like we ended every phone call. Ciao, darling. I love you. MWAH MWAH! Love your GRANDchild, Kimberly aka Carmenita

Carmen Accashian

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Real people were just in a frightening car accident. To immediately frame their misfortune as rhetorical ammunition against new housing — affordable housing included — feels less like concern for “health and safety” and more like opportunistically using a scary moment to support a pre-existing position. If we’re going to debate this proposal, we should do it honestly: with data on traffic volume, accident history, engineering recommendations, and the town’s housing needs, not by seizing on a single crash as proof that 300 apartments are inherently unsafe. Newtown deserves a thoughtful, fact-based conversation about growth, safety, and affordability — one that doesn’t turn other people’s bad day into a political talking point.

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To add context that did not occur at the meeting would not be an accurate representation of the meeting and would, in fact, be editorializing to shape public opinion. The editorial staff here do not consider ourselves to be final arbiters of what the truth is (and if we did, it would make us partisan and biased), and we would need to provide a source for any dissenting information (sourcing all information in an article is literally Journalism 101). There were no such sources present at the meeting in question, and so it would not be appropriate to include such information in an article about the meeting. Dissenting voices appear in meeting stories when there were active participants with dissenting opinions, such as during public participation or the words of a council member who disagreed. It should be noted that the Interfaith Council, like many local boards and commissions, conduct meetings that are open to the public. This was not an article on the actions of the Greater Danbury Area Unites for Immigrants, or on immigrants, or on ICE's actions in the community, where including other voices or perspectives would be appropriate. We appreciate your opinion, but we stand by our meeting coverage and consider this discussion closed.

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Mary E. Hanlon

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