WOODSTOCK — Behind Patty Howe’s home is a flowering Japanese Lilac that she planted in memory of her stepmother, Mina Belle.
When the sun shines the blossoms turn white, right now they are still ivory colored, lamented Howe.
After her stepmother died in 2004, Howe and her brother dug up a little shoot from the tree on the corner of her property on Mason Street in Bethel. She had lived there for 50 years.
Frances, Howe’s birth mother, passed away when she was a baby. Her father married her aunt so her step-brothers are also her cousins.
Howe said she was raised by her grandparents in South Woodstock, but her stepmother was a big part of her life, too.
Known around Woodstock because she helps at town office and also on voting day and Howe sits to do puzzles at the Woodstock library every week as well.
Send questions/comments to the editors.
Success. Please wait for the page to reload. If the page does not reload within 5 seconds, please refresh the page.
Enter your email and password to access comments.
Hi, to comment on stories you must . This profile is in addition to your subscription and website login.
Already have a commenting profile? .
Invalid username/password.
Please check your email to confirm and complete your registration.
Only subscribers are eligible to post comments. Please subscribe or login first for digital access. Here’s why.
Use the form below to reset your password. When you've submitted your account email, we will send an email with a reset code.