Deanne P. Raymond

Deanne P. Raymond of Torrington, CT passed away on November 25, 2024 at Charlotte Hungerford Hospital after a brief stay, surrounded by family and her wonderful caregivers.

Deanne was known for her caring, kindness, warmth and wit by everyone she ever met. Her engaging and outgoing personality was an ever-present source of joy, bringing smiles to friends, family and even complete strangers she met in the course of everyday life. She exuded genuine interest and caring as she engaged others, with countless conversations blossoming into life-long friendships. In her 20+ years at the Fairways in Torrington, she seemed to know everybody and became a beloved neighbor and friend, hosting and joining many memorable gatherings and always up for an impromptu get together..

Deanne had a great sense of style and boundless creativity that took many forms. From her stylish couture to her warm and elegantly decorated homes and gardens to her remarkable culinary skills, she brought great enthusiasm and pride to every endeavor. It was always a treat to join her for a home-cooked meal or a wine-time gathering. She was a talented artist, creating wonderful drawings and watercolor paintings as well as decorations commemorating every holiday and topic of special interest such as pets, food and wine. 

Deanne had a keen entrepreneurial streak, with business interests ranging from her lovely Bed & Breakfast Inn, Greenwood’s Gate in Norfolk, Connecticut to a gift store to her pet toys and treats business, Deanne Raymond’s Pet Parade. Along the way she became a successful realtor, winning several sales awards and helping numerous families through the home buying process. Her mind was constantly at work devising new ways to delight her many fans and followers. Pet Parade was inspired by her beloved pets, Madison (dog) and Maxx (cat) that she showered with love and attention, realizing what a source of comfort and connection among people that pets could be. Her inn attracted guests that returned numerous times, developing many enduring friendships. For several years she was kind enough to close the inn to the public, enabling her family to host incredibly memorable and fun New Year’s parties and camp/college friend reunions.

Those who knew Deanne were amused and often astonished by stories of her adventures. For instance, she became a private pilot, flying a small private plane all over the Northeast and internationally to Montreal, Canada. As if that wasn’t enough, she decided to take things to the next level with acrobatic flying in an open-air Red Baron style biplane, performing an exhilarating series of dives, barrel rolls and loops on these outings. In an entirely different context, she once sang - accompanied by her sister Jeannine - aboard the infamous Italian ocean liner The Andrea Dorea when it was at port in New York harbor before setting sail to Europe carrying a high school friend to attend the wedding of Grace Kelly to the Prince of Monaco. What a story out of another era!

The fourth daughter of Dr. Edward A. Pfeiffer and Marcella Chard Pfeiffer, Deanne was born at home in Riverdale, NY during a blizzard, delivered by her father. A few years later the family moved to Larchmont, NY to a home next door to the Shore Club on Long Island Sound where Deanne spent many summers swimming (which she liked) and playing tennis (not so much). She attended Catholic boarding school, developing - among other things - excellent handwriting, a skill she recounted pursuing determinedly as a left-hander, resisting the urging of her teachers to get over it and write as a righty. Her boarding school career precipitated a time of rebellion that many would argue never fully left her. She enrolled in the rather bohemian Parson’s School of Design in New York City, which was a significant departure from the path her parents had in mind for her. Her time there was an awakening to the world beyond Larchmont, leaving a lasting impression. But she cut her studies short when she met and married Bob Keane, also of Larchmont. She liked to say that instead of a B.A. she earned an MRS.

Deanne and Bob had three children, Kevin (now in Washington DC married to Reetta Lindström), Carolynn (now in Ann Arbor, MI, married to Jim Hayman) and Marianne (now in Housatonic, MA married to Bart Reeves). The couple lived in New Rochelle, NY and Ridgewood, NJ before settling in Fairfield, Connecticut in 1967. Deanne was a super-engaged mother, bringing her characteristic energy and enthusiasm to every birthday party, raising the heat to 90+ in the winter for indoor “beach” parties, indulging all manner of pets from cats to mice, hamsters and garter snakes, and volunteering in school to teach art and chaperone field trips. She packed school lunches every day, enclosing both funny and encouraging notes adorned with clever cartoons and illustrations. There was simply no mistaking how much Deanne always loved and cared for her children.

When Deanne later married John Raymond, she brought the same warmth, love and care to his three children, Jack, Darcy and Michael, as a step mother. This was just a warm up for becoming a youthful grandmother to Kevin’s children Tim (now of Cambridge, MA) and Lauren (now of Groveland, MA, married to Nick Michel) and Carolynn and Jim’s daughter Anna (now of Broklyn, NY and soon Arlington, VA). Deanne was so proud of all of them and cherished spending time being a grandmother. This included trips to Disney World, extended baby-sitting stints and visits for graduations, holidays, birthdays and Bat Mitzvahs. She was thrilled to attend the wedding of Lauren and Nick as an honored guest, charming everyone and making it onto the dance floor, cane in hand, having so much fun and just delighted to be there. She loved hosting her granddaughters for girls weekends, showing them all her favorite local stores, introducing her friends and collaborating on craft projects. Finally, Deanne was absolutely thrilled to learn she would become a great grandmother to Lauren and Nick’s daughter next year.

Deanne loved her sisters Jeannine, Claire and Marcella (now living in White Plains, NY). Both Jeannine and Claire predeceased her. It was always a treat to be present when the sisters would get together, and lovely to see the sisterly bond between Marcella and Deanne endure through the present day. Jeannine’s nine children and Claire’s four are Deanne’s thirteen beloved nieces and nephews. It was always very special to get the family together, and nice to see the relationships she maintained with her nieces and nephews and their children over the years.

 It has been said of certain special individuals that no one ever met them and forgot them. There is no doubt that Deanne earned this elite distinction. She will be sorely missed and long remembered by her family and many friends. 

On Saturday February 1, 2025, from 11am to 2pm, Deanne’s family will host a memorial gathering at her home in Torrington, CT to give neighbors, friends, and family an opportunity to meet and share their stories and memories of Deanne. Coffee, refreshments and light snacks will be served. Please consider making a donation to Charlotte Hungerford Hospital ( https://giving.charlottehungerford.org/donate ) in lieu of flowers.