Hartford Funeral Home

08/07/2026

Honored to serve the family of Leticia "Tish" Jackson. Follow the link below to read more about the life of Tish and to leave condolences for her family.

View Letisha Jackson's obituary, send flowers, find service dates, and sign the guestbook.

07/27/2026

Hartford Funeral Home is honored to assist the family of Harold Reid Watts. To read more about his story, click the link below and leave condolences for the family.

View Harold Reid Watts's obituary, send flowers, find service dates, and sign the guestbook.

07/24/2026

We are honored to serve the family of Charlene F. Stockard. Please clink the link below to view Charlene's full life story and share your messages of condolence with her family and friends.

View Charlene Florence Stockard's obituary, send flowers, find service dates, and sign the guestbook.

07/24/2026

Charlene Florence Stockard

It is with heavy hearts that we announce the passing of Charlene F. Stockard, age 81, who left us peacefully on July 23, 2026, at her home in Hartford, surrounded by family. Born on March 6, 1945, in Monroe, MI, Charlene was the cherished daughter of the late Charles Crawford and Helen Mae Bogner Parks.

Charlene dedicated her life to her family, taking on the role of a devoted homemaker with love and grace. She created a warm, welcoming home filled with laughter, comfort, and the special memories that will linger in the hearts of those she leaves behind.

She is survived by her two sons, Robert Lee Stockard, Jr. (Alice) and Ronald Alan Stockard (Juanita); three sisters, Phyllis L. Perry (Steven),Patti Jo Parks, and Jo Anne Leatard (Patrick); and her brothers, Charles C. Parks (Mary), Jon W. Parks (Ruth), and David Newton Parks (Laurie). Charlene also leaves behind a legacy of love through her many grandchildren and an incredible 21 great-grandchildren who adored her deeply.

Aside from her parents, Charlene was preceded in death by her husband, Robert Lee Stockard; her beloved daughter, Michelle LeAnne Stockard Whelan; her brother, Landis C. Parks; sister, Juanita Parks; and great-grandchild, Thomas James Carter, Jr.

In a reflection of her wishes, Charlene will be cremated, and she will be laid to rest beside her husband in Michigan.

Online condolences can be shared at www.hartfordfh.com as we hold her memory close to our hearts.

07/16/2026

Gary Sturgis really puts into words what most of us over 60 are feeling. This is such a good read. For more of his writings, check out his book, https://sgrief.com/sg365/

By the time we reach our 60’s and beyond, (and yes…I’m in that category), we've lived through things our younger selves never imagined.

We've celebrated weddings and birthdays. We've welcomed children and grandchildren. We've built careers, homes, friendships, and traditions that shaped who we became.

But many of us have also buried people we never wanted to say goodbye to.

A spouse. A sibling. Friends. Parents. And sometimes even a child.

Grief becomes something we carry more often as we grow older. It isn't a sign that life’s become smaller. It's just evidence that we've loved deeply.

I've learned something from the thousands of grieving people I've had the privilege of walking alongside. That healing isn't about leaving our loved one behind. It's about learning how to carry both love and sorrow at the same time.

As we grow older, maybe these simple reminders become even more important:

Keep loving.
Don't let loss convince you your heart has reached its limit. There’s always room for kindness, friendship, and connection.

Keep remembering.
Speak their names. Tell their stories. Love doesn't disappear just because someone’s no longer physically here.

Keep saying yes.
To lunch with a friend. To a walk by the ocean. To holding a grandchild's hand. To watching another sunrise. Living isn't a betrayal of the people we miss.

Keep asking for help.
Strength isn't measured by how much we carry alone. Some of the bravest words we can ever say are, "I'm having a hard day."

Keep growing.
We don't stop becoming who we're meant to be just because we've reached a certain age. There’s still room for new friendships, new purpose, new laughter, and even new dreams.

And finally...keep choosing hope.

Not because life’s been easy or because grief magically disappears. But because every new morning is another opportunity to honor the people we love by continuing to live the life we've been given.

Here’s the thing…growing older isn't something to fear.

It's a privilege that many of the people we love never had...and maybe the best way we can honor them is to keep living with the love they left behind.

Gary Sturgis
Author of: ‘SURVIVING GRIEF - 365 Days A Year’ See less

07/04/2026

06/29/2026

Grief is one of the deepest expressions of love. We grieve because someone mattered. Because memories mattered. Because the bond we shared mattered. The tears we shed are not evidence of weakness. They are reminders that our hearts were created to love deeply. And while grief can feel lonely, God meets us there. In the quiet moments. In the memories. In the questions. In the ache of missing someone we wish we could hold one more time. 🙌

The beautiful promise of faith is that love is never wasted. The love we shared continues to shape us, soften us, and remind us of what is truly important.
If you're walking through a season of grief, be patient with yourself. Healing is rarely rushed, and God's presence is often found in the slow, gentle work of carrying us one day at a time.

Shared from Mindful Christianity

06/16/2026

The Story Behind The Song -- Amazing Grace

"Amazing grace, how sweet the sound, that saved a wretch like me."

It is one of the most famous hymns in history:

"Amazing grace, how sweet the sound,
that saved a wretch like me.
I once was lost, but now am found,
Was blind but now I see."

On March 21, 1748, John Newton, a sea captain, was aboard a ship called the Greyhound, when a violent storm struck and the ship was about to sink. As Captain Newton scrambled to the deck a shipmate was thrown overboard and never seen again. Captain Newton prayed....."Lord, have mercy on us" as he attempted to steer the battered ship to safety. For 11 hours Newton remained at the wheel. Gradually the storm calmed. Newton prayed "Twas grace that taught my heart to fear.....and Grace my fears relieved....how precious did that grace appear the hour I first believed."

For the rest of his life Captain John Newton marked March 21 as a day of prayer and praise. It was thru this experience at sea that Captain John Newton's life began to be transformed. He began to read the Bible. Captain Newton came home to stay in 1750. He grew in faith and knowledge. He also became friends with church leaders including John Wesley. He decided to apply for ordination as a Pastor. He was turned down at first, but he learned to recite scripture, continued to apply, and was eventually accepted as a Pastor.

In December 1772 in Olney, England, Pastor John Newton needed a song for his New Years Day Service that would inspire the working people of his congregation. He wrote the following words on a piece of paper, "Amazing Grace......how sweet the sound that saved a Wretch like me. I once was lost but now I'm found, was blind but now I see. Twas grace that taught my heart to fear.....and Grace my fears relieved....how precious did that grace appear the hour I first believed."

Amazing Grace is one of the worlds most beloved hymns to provide hope at times of sorrow. When planning a service to celebrate the life of a loved one Amazing Grace is a classic hymn that families continue to request today.

In the weeks ahead we will share the story behind some of our nation’s greatest hymns. Please comment if you have a favorite hymn that you would like to know the story behind the words.

06/14/2026

We are honored to serve the family of Penelope "Penny" Sutton. Please click the link below to view Penny's full life story and share your messages of condolence with her family and friends.

View Penelope "Penny" Sutton's obituary, send flowers, find service dates, and sign the guestbook.