Dillon-Baxter Funeral Home

Helen Daley LaMotta, 99, beloved mother, wife, nurse and traveler, passed this life on the seventh of June, 2026 at Skybrooke at Simsbury, Connecticut. In truth, heaven called earlier but of course Helen’s response was always “just a minute”. Helen’s good friends and family wish to acknowledge that they were the real beneficiaries of her long and love filled life.

Helen went to Saint Francis School of Nursing and began her career as a nurse at Hartford Hospital where she met her husband, Rudy. She proudly served as a flight nurse during World War II. She stayed home to raise her children in Wethersfield and returned to work as a real estate agent. Later, Helen worked as a unit secretary on the maternity floor at Hartford Hospital for many years, and after retirement, volunteered at her local school library. Proud of her Irish heritage, she enjoyed trips to Ireland and also visited Germany, Italy, Switzerland and Mexico.

Helen is survived by her son Joseph LaMotta and his wife Rebecca Reynolds, her four daughters Anne-Marie LaMotta, Marianne LaMotta-Walman and her husband Glenn, Ellen Thibodeau and her husband Gerard and Amy LaMotta and her partner Michael Taylor. Helen is also survived by four grandchildren, Leslie, Jake, Noah and Matthew and his wife Jackie, one great grandchild Liana, and many nieces and nephews. She also leaves behind her second family at Skybrooke at Simsbury, who truly are the best caregivers one could ask for. Helen was predeceased by her parents Robert and Elvie (Wagner) Daley, her husband, Dr. Rudolph V. LaMotta, her brother Robert Daley and her sister Dolores Lavery.

Relatives and friends of Helen’s are welcome at Dillon-Baxter Funeral Home, 1276 Berlin Tpke., Wethersfield, CT on Tuesday, June 23, 2026 from 10am to 12pm. Burial will be private. Donations in Helen’s memory may be made to Compassionate Caregiver’s Fund, LLC, c/o Northbridge Companies, 71 Third Avenue, Burlington, MA 01803, or to the Alzheimer’s Association. To share a memory of Helen, please visit www.dillonbaxter.com.

Rev. Carmen I. Pena, 88, of Newington, CT beloved wife of the late Rev. Miguel Pena passed away Saturday, May 9, 2026 at the Hospital of Central CT @ New Britain General. Carmen was born in Gurabo, PR and was the daughter of the late Gumercindo and Belen (Betancourth) Hernandez.

Carmen is survived by her three sons Joel Pena, Elias Pena, Miguel Pena, Jr., her daughter Miriam Quinonez, her sister Aracelis Hernandez, her twelve grandchildren, twelve great grandchildren and two great-great grandchildren. Carmen was predeceased by her daughter Hilcias Merari Pena.

Funeral service for Carmen will be held Saturday, May 16, 2026 at 10:30am at the Dillon-Baxter Funeral Home, 1276 Berlin Tpke., Wethersfield, CT. Burial will be in Hazardville Cemetery, Enfield. Relatives and friends may call at La Primera Iglesia de Dios, 45 Oliver St., Hartford, CT Friday from 5pm to 8pm. To share a memory of Carmen, please visit www.dillonbaxter.com

Leonor Contreras, 84, of Hartford, CT passed away Monday, May 4, 2026 at Hartford Hospital. Leonor was born in Peru and was the daughter of the late Artemio Contreras and Laura Rosa De la Cruz. She was a wonderful mother who worked very hard for her daughter and family. She loved everyone and was always there to help when needed. She enjoyed cooking for her family and devoted herself to raising her grandchildren with all her heart.

Leonor is survived by her only daughter Rosario Contreras and her husband Victor M. Vasquez She was the oldest of her siblings Gerardo Contreras, Raul Contreras, Crescensio Contreras, and Antonio Contreras, her three grandchildren Victor Eli Vasquez, her two great grandchildren Dionella, Rosabella, Manuel Vasquez and his wife Albalee Vasquez, two great grandkids Leaandra and Alexis, and Izaiah Vasquez. Leonor was predeceased by her grandchild Diego Alexis Vasquez and her sister-in- law Maria De La Roca.

Funeral service for Leonor will be held Friday, May 8, 2026 at 11am at Our Lady of Sorrows Church, 79 New Park Ave., Hartford. Burial will be in Cedar Hill Cemetery, Hartford. Relatives and friends may call at the Dillon-Baxter Funeral Home, 1276 Berlin Tpke., Wethersfield, CT Thursday from 4pm to 7pm. To share a memory of Leonor, please visit www.dillonbaxter.com