COLEBROOK – Mildred “Millie, Toots, Gram, Nana” L. Johnson (née Sanford), 110, of Colebrook, passed away peacefully after a long, well-lived life, on Saturday, Feb. 10, 2024. As a supercentenarian, she was the oldest living person in Connecticut. She was the loving wife of the late Francis “Frank” E. Johnson for 77 years.
Born in Winchester, N.H., on May 28, 1913, Millie was the first of three daughters born to George E. Sanford and Effie M. (Chalifaux) Sanford. Growing up during The Great Depression, their family was cash poor but rich in family and friends.
Millie grew up in Winsted, where her father was a harness maker, and her mother was a seamstress. She loved gymnastics, swimming, and other sports at the YMCA, along with riding horses, motorcycles, and spending summers working at her family’s farms in Hudson and Walpole, N.H.
Graduating from Gilbert High School in 1931, Millie went on to meet her future husband, Frank Johnson, in a chance encounter at Osborne’s Speakeasy in Colebrook River. It was love at first sight! Their first real date was at the Warner Theatre in Torrington, where in 1935 they entered a marathon dance event.
They went on to marry in September 1938, and eventually built and moved into their forever home in Colebrook in 1955. Millie retired after a 20-year career at Winsted’s Dano Electric in the mid-1960s.
Millie’s marriage to Frank culminated in two daughters, seven grandchildren, 18 great-grandchildren and 20 great-great-grandchildren. She was devoted to raising her children as well as her grandchildren, and enjoyed summer vacations with them at Lake Champlain, fishing and Frontier Town in upstate New York.
Millie instilled in them her love of life and the same work ethic that carried her and her family though the difficult Depression-era days. Our memories growing up with Frank and Millie (Gram and Gramp) were a mixture of their semi-strict household rules, generously interspersed with many family and friend gatherings.
Everyone was welcomed in the Johnson household. All were embraced with dignity and respect. Millie’s fun-loving and welcoming personality were the centerpiece of all of these gatherings, and infected those around her with the same spirit.
Later in life, Millie and Frank enjoyed winter vacations in Florida where they loved fishing and playing golf. She also enjoyed visiting with and mentoring her many grandchildren and hosting her epic Sunday family spaghetti dinners and picnics.
The memories of her kindness, beautiful smile, infectious laugh, and loving embrace will be with us always. For such a little lady, she had a huge heart and a feisty spirit! Her keys to a long life: put one foot in front of the other, try not to let the little things bother you, and LAUGH always!
Millie is survived by her seven grandchildren, Michael F. Wilson and wife Debbie of Shapleigh, Maine, Jay R. Wilson and wife Anne of Monson, Mass., Jennifer L. Horr and husband Jay of Springvale, Maine, Eric S. Wilson and wife Julia of Canaan, Denise Gilbert and husband James of Barkhamsted, Christopher Bagnall of Norfolk, and Timothy Bagnall of Daytona Beach, Fla.
She also leaves behind her cherished 18 great-grandchildren, 20 great-great-grandchildren and many nieces and nephews.
She was predeceased by her husband Francis E. Johnson, age 99; her sisters Evelyn Johnson, age 95 and Muriel Depace, age 75; her daughters Sandra M. Wilson, age 81 and Linda F. Bagnall, age 69; along great-grandsons Brandon Bagnall, age 16 and Devin Gilbert, age 24.
Calling hours will be on Saturday, Feb. 17, 2024, at Montano-Shea Funeral Home, 922 Main St., Winsted, from 1 to 3 p.m.
Memorial contributions may be made to: McLean Hospice, 75 Great Pond Road, Simsbury, CT 06070.
Visit an online guest book at montano-shea.com.
