Loretta "Lora" Carlson, 86, widow of Ellis W. Carlson, of Chester, CT passed away on June 9, 2011 at Apple Rehabilitation in Old Saybrook, CT. Lora, daughter of the late Lavina and Theodore Valle, was born June 24, 1925 in Burlington, VT where she graduated from Brandon High School and later moved to West Hartford and Manchester, CT where she raised her children. Later in life with her late husband Ellis Carlson, she resided at the beach in Clinton, CT and Hobe Sound, FL; finally settling at Cedar Lake in Chester. She is survived by her daughter Jennifer Smyth of Manchester, six grandchildren: Laura Larson and her husband Jim of Chester; Kelly Allard and her husband Nick of Andover; William Smyth IV and his wife Monica of Philadelphia; Robert Reed of Manchester; Jessica Smyth of Vernon; and Ryan Reed of Andover; and two great-grandchildren Matthew and Mason Allard. She is further survived by step-daughters: Diane Burgess, her husband James and their sons, Bret, his wife Nicole and daughters Avery Elizabeth and Emily Carlson, and Eric; Marjorie Congdon, her husband Benjamin and daughter Molly; Ellie Sims, her husband Marty and son T.J. She also leaves behind her "sister"-in-law Ann Boettger, her husband Ed and their children, and "daughter" Cynthia Kershaw. In addition to Ellis, Loretta was predeceased by her children Jeffrey Powell and Linda Reed, and son-in-law William Smyth III. Lora's family would like to thank the Apple staff as well as the Masonicare Hospice staff for the loving care she received. In lieu of flowers, please bless an elderly neighbor, relative or nursing home resident with the gift of your time. A celebration of her life will be held on July 23, 2011 at 1 p.m. at Trinity Covenant Church, 302 Hackmatack St., Manchester, CT. The John F. Tierney Funeral Home, Manchester, CT has care of the arrangements. For online condolences please visit www,tierneyfuneralhome.com.