Linnette (Hillary) Harvey, 94, daughter of Edna (Noble) Hillary and Zenas Hillary, passed away peacefully, of natural causes on December 14, 2025 in Stamford, Connecticut, surrounded by her loving family. A long-time resident of Darien, CT and Windsor, NY, she was born in Binghamton, NY on November 25, 1931. She was a graduate of …
Linnette married James H. Harvey, Jr., on April 21, 1951 in Binghamton and the couple later moved to Stamford, Connecticut. In 1960, they settled in Darien where Jim worked as a police officer in town. Linnette devoted herself to raising their three children while also being the first Police Matron for the Darien Police Department. In this role, she cared for female suspects in police custody at the jail and accompanied them during transfers to women’s correctional facilities. She also served as a school crossing guard, warmly helping children zip coats and offering tissues as they crossed her street. After relocating to NY, Linnette worked in the Windsor School’s cafeteria where her laughter and kindness brightened the lives of countless children.
Following Jim’s retirement in 1977, Jim and Linnette moved to Windsor, NY where they built a home on White Birch Lake to be closer to family, including her sister Beth. Linnette loved walking and routinely completed four mile loops around her beloved lake until she was nearly 90 years old. She always had a smile on her face and loved telling stories while laughing her way through them.
Linnette was a loving mother and grandmother. She is survived by her son, Stephen (Leslie) Harvey of Port Orchard, WA, daughter Karen Racaniello of Darien, and daughter-in-law Esther Harvey (Southington); six grand-children: Jeremy (Jessica) Harvey, Laura (Daniel) Lundberg, Meghan (Jim) Roscoe, Keith (Vanessa) Harvey, Shannon (Nick) Macca, and Sean Racaniello; and thirteen great-grand-children: Jillian Quam, Jacob Harvey, Wren Lundberg, Parker, Alexa and Camden Roscoe, Grayson, Xavier, Meadow and Dakota Harvey, and Ripken, Colson and Kenley Linnette Macca. Linnette was predeceased by her sister Beth Gal; brothers Robert and Frank Hillary; son Kevin Harvey; and son-in-law Vic Racaniello. She also leaves behind beloved nieces and nephews, especially Chris who looked after her while living in New York.
Linnette will be laid to rest alongside her husband in Vestal Hills Memorial Park in the coming spring.
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