Pauline Ruth "Polly" Willard

Pauline “Polly” Ruth Willard, 82, of Hartford, Vermont, died unexpectedly on Thursday, March 12, 2026, at Dartmouth Hitchcock Medical Center in Lebanon, New Hampshire.

Born on November 10, 1943, in Lebanon, New Hampshire, Polly was the daughter of Ritchie and Gladys Willard. She grew up in Hartford Village, where she lived most of her life. She graduated from Hartford High School in 1961 and married shortly afterward. Polly raised her three daughters in Hartford Village and, once they were in school, began working at Hartford High School so she could remain close to her girls. She later worked at Imperial Printers in Hartford Village before joining Dartmouth College, where she served in Student Housing, Physiology, and finally retired from Alumni Records.

A lifelong member of the Greater Hartford United Church of Christ, Polly sang in the choir and volunteered in many capacities. She found great joy in tending her flower gardens each summer. Known for her generous spirit, she was always ready to help anyone in need and greeted everyone with a kind word and a warm smile. Her family and friends were the center of her world.

She is survived by her daughters Pamela Bragg (Jim) of Lebanon, Donna DeCoff of Hartford, and Dawn DeCoff of Hartford; four grandchildren, Robert “BJ” Boisvert (Chrissy), Brittany Walker (Brad), Erik Daigle, and Katy Daigle; eight great-grandchildren, Desiree, Alexis, Brooke, Cooper, Maddie, Chase, Andrew, and Olivia; and a great-great-grandchild, Orion. She is also survived by her sister Evelyn Akers of Rensselaer, New York, and many nieces and nephews. Polly was predeceased by her beloved brother, Herb Willard.