Suzanne "Zan" (Griselle) Picard

Suzanne Griselle Picard, “Zan”, 89, of Colchester, died at home with her family by her side on November 29, 2017.  Wife of the late Raymond A. Picard, Zan was born on June 16, 1928 in Chestnut Hill, PA, a suburb of Philadelphia, and was the daughter of the late Sherman and Pearl (Gilbert) Griselle, She spent her childhood during the Great Depression moving throughout the United States from Pennsylvania to Georgia to Ohio to New York and Illinois and was ever grateful to have settled in Colchester for the last 60 years.  An occupational therapist, Zan graduated from the Boston School of Occupational Therapy (now part of Tufts University) in 1951. A pioneer in her field, she moved to Connecticut to work at the Hartford Easter Seals Rehabilitation Center.  Later, she worked side by side with her husband Ray at their business, Ray’s Pharmacy.  Zan loved travel, Cape Cod, lighthouses, crafts, weaving, storytelling, sewing, butterflies – and chocolate.  She combined her interests in the service of others as a Girl Scout leader and, after retirement, in her ministry as a clown named Papillion (Butterfly).  Until her illness, Zan was also an active member in civic organizations in Colchester, serving as a member of the Colchester Historical Society and the Senior Center Intergenerational Program and was honored as Colchester’s “Citizen of the Year” in 1999.  She enjoyed being a grandmother to her many grandchildren and great-grandchildren.  Zan was a daily communicant of Saint Andrew Church in Colchester.  Devoted to her church and faith, she was a Third Order Franciscan (secular), member of the Ladies’ Guild, religious education teacher, RCIA teacher for adults entering the Catholic faith, and a longtime member of the St. Andrew Choir. Through it all, Zan always put her family first and she leaves a beautiful legacy through them and all whose lives she touched.  She is survived by her five children - daughter Jeannette Picard of Storrs (her husband Ted Busky and their children Nathaniel and Jillian Picard-Busky); son Paul Picard of Colchester (his wife Charlene and her daughter Tina Marino); daughter Sue Buckley of Glastonbury (her husband Jim and their children James and Kiera Buckley); daughter Barb Branciforte of Colchester (her husband Tony and their children Matthew Carli, Scott (Liana) Carli, Kerry (Adam) Hoyt, Amanda Branciforte and Nicholas Branciforte); and daughter Chantalle Picard of Colchester (and her stepdaughter Ginny Graichen).  Zan is also survived by several great grandchildren, many nieces and nephews, and numerous loving friends.  In addition to her husband, Ray, she was predeceased by their infant son David; her sister, Grace Griselle; brothers Sherman and Lewis Griselle; and sisters-in-law, Sr. Jean Beatrice Picard, DHS, and Rita (Picard) Charpentier. 

The family will receive guests from 2 - 5 PM Sunday (Dec. 3rd) at the Aurora-McCarthy Funeral Home, 167 Old Hartford Road, Colchester.  The Funeral Liturgy will be celebrated at 10 AM Monday (Dec. 4th) directly at Saint Andrew Church, 128 Norwich Avenue, Colchester.  Burial will be private in the New St. Andrew Cemetery.  In lieu of flowers, memorial donations can be made in Zan’s name to the Alzheimer’s Association (www.alz.org), Masonicare Hospice, P.O. Box 70, Wallingford 06492 (www.masonicare.org) or to the Daughters of the Holy Spirit, 72 Church St., Putnam 06260.