Lee Holly Havens, age 78, of Vero Beach, FL passed away peacefully at home on December 7, 2025.

Born in Hartford, CT to Leonard Howell Havens and Alice Post Havens, Holly grew up in West Hartford, CT with her three brothers, loving school where she excelled in academics, theater productions and drama club, and graduated with honors from Hall High School in West Hartford in 1967.

Holly was a lifelong learner, attending Allegheny College, Hartford College for Women (AA), American Academy of Dramatic Arts in NYC studying acting for two years, and the University of Iowa (BA in Education).

Holly returned to Connecticut and worked in banking and insurance.  At Aetna Life and Casualty, she was employed as a Systems Analyst and Programmer until the late eighties. She then left the corporate world to pursue her real passion: books, furthering her education at Southern Connecticut, earning her Masters in Library Science.

In 1990, Holly moved to Florida to work as a reference librarian, children's library coordinator and library branch manager in various communities throughout Florida.  Holly returned to Vero Beach in the early 2000's to care for her mother.

Holly enjoyed theater, children's literature, cats, photography, birding and pastels, and especially loved her many carefree summers at the Havens Family cottage at Hawk's Nest Beach in Old Lyme, CT.  She traveled to Kenya on safari in 1987, and took a three week whirlwind trip through Europe in her early twenties.

Holly was a wonderful Aunt and Great Aunt to her three nephews and their families:  Mathew Havens, wife Natalie, daughter Finley and son Fisher (Fairfield, CT), Duffy Havens, wife Tiana and daughter Trillian (Waterford CT), and Jeb Havens and husband Steven Havens (Portland, OR).  Holly's favorite holiday was Christmas and her family always looked forward to her handmade gifts, homemade goodies and giant mystery boxes.

Holly is survived by her brother Leonard Havens and wife Mary Beth Havens of Cape Coral, FL and Waterford, CT and her brother Thomas Havens and wife Dawn Havens of Parker, CO.  She was predeceased by her brother Casey Havens.

Holly will be interred at the Cedar Hill Cemetery in Hartford, CT in the Havens family plot.

Donations can be made directly to the African Wildlife Foundation  https://secure.awf.org