Richard J. Avery, 70 of Tolland, beloved husband of Mary (Cunningham) Avery ended his quest to make everyone's life better on Thursday, November 17, 2016. He was born August 20, 1946, in NY, NY; the son of the late Albert Avery and Veronica (O'Connell) Avery. Richie loved his family and enjoyed spoiling the children in the family, and any other children that happened to be with them. He had a unique sense of knowing what the young people in his life needed and became a sounding board, confidant, and role model for many. He loved his work as an electrician and was extremely proud of the day he became a union electrician. He retired from IBEW Local 35, but soon found he didn't enjoy retirement as much as he enjoyed working and creating things. He never said no, and was always the first one to offer his help, so he enjoyed many hours of his retirement helping family and friends with various projects which may not have ended up your way, but they ended up the "right" way. When play time came he enjoyed his Harleys, classic cars, drag racing, scuba diving, boating and fishing, but most of all enjoyed travel and hoped to instill the wanderlust in the next generation. He seemed to know how to do everything and took with him an amazing memory and a vast amount of knowledge about all of his hobbies and interests which he was happy to share with anyone willing to listen. Richie was predeceased by his brother Eddie, and is survived by his loving wife Mary, his son Richard M. Avery of South Windsor; his daughter Michele VonEisengrein and her husband Michael of Coventry; his sisters, Barbara Avery of Manchester and Helene Avery and her husband Rick Phillips of Bolton; his brothers, Bill Avery and his wife Barbara of Tolland and Ron Avery of Atlanta, Ga; his grandchildren, Devon, Patrick, Kaleigh, Veronica, Michael and Brodie; several nieces and nephews that he loved and treated like his own children, many friends that were his extended family, and his beloved four legged furry friend Jack. Relatives and friends are welcome to join the family from 4-7PM on Friday, November 25, 2016, at the Tolland Memorial Funeral Home, 375 Merrow Road (Rt. 195), Tolland, CT. A funeral service will be held at 10am on Saturday, November 26, 2016, at the Tolland Memorial Funeral Home. Burial will follow at Valley View Cemetery, Tolland. In lieu of flowers donations can be made to the American Diabetes Association, 2080 Silas Deane Highway, Rocky Hill, CT 06067 or the Tolland Fire Dept., Inc., PO Box 827, Tolland, CT 06084. For online condolences please visit: www.pietrasfuneralhome.com
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