Governor Ned Lamont has directed US and state flags in Connecticut lowered to half-staff in honor of former Governor M. Jodi Rell, who passed away at a Florida hospital on Wednesday, November 20, following a brief illness. She was 78 years old.

Flags should be lowered effective immediately and remain lowered until sunset on the date of interment, which has not yet been determined. The Office of the Governor will send out a notification when flags should be returned to full staff.

Governor Rell was Connecticut’s 87th governor, serving from 2004 until 2011. She was only the second female governor in Connecticut history. She also served as lieutenant governor for ten years and as a member of the Connecticut House of Representatives for ten years, representing Brookfield and Bethel.

Mary Carolyn “Jodi” Rell was born in Virginia. She and her husband Lou moved to Brookfield in 1969. The Republican served as the state’s 105th lieutenant governor of Connecticut from 1995 to 2004 under Governor John G. Rowland. She became governor after Rowland resigned from office.

Lamont said the former governor represented “the very best of Connecticut values, expanding healthcare and childcare, and making Connecticut one of the first states in the country to recognize same-sex unions.”

“She became governor almost reluctantly and at a time of great turmoil, and she used her newly acquired authority to bring stability to state government in a way that was very much needed at the time, focusing on strengthening state ethics laws and rebuilding the trust of the residents of our state,” Lamont said November 21.

“Her style of leadership was not fabricated or manipulated in any way. The Jodi Rell that the people of Connecticut saw in public was the Jodi Rell that she was in real life — calm, rational, caring, approachable, and devoted to her family and to her state. During this time that I’ve had the honor of serving as governor, she has become a very good friend.

“We had a great bipartisan conversation at the Rell Center last year and had a lot of fun at the annual holiday parties at the Residence. I will miss her at the door greeting Christmas well-wishers next month. We will all miss Governor Rell, who left the state a better place. Annie and I extend our condolences to the entire Rell family,” Lamont continued.

Lt Governor Susan Bysiewicz said the state “has lost a trailblazing political leader and treasured public servant who served our state with dedication and distinction for nearly three decades.

“She stepped up as Connecticut’s second female governor in 2004, during a tumultuous time, and restored public trust in and brought stability back to state government,” Bysiewicz added. “A major part of that legacy was her support for the state’s landmark public financing program, an initiative that removed the power of special interests in our political system.

“I had the privilege of knowing Governor Rell since I was elected to the legislature in 1992. She was hardworking, smart, and well-liked by her colleagues on both sides of the aisle. She brought integrity, compassion, and civility to public service, and she was truly a role model for many women in government. She was a strong advocate for our veterans, military men and women, and members of our National Guard.

“Our state mourns her passing, and Governor Lamont and I send our condolences to her children, Michael and Meredith, and to her grandchildren,” Bysiewicz said.

Rell’s husband died in March 2014.

In accordance with the governor’s directive, flags will be at half-staff on the Connecticut State Capitol building and all other state-operated buildings, grounds, and facilities statewide. Individuals, businesses, schools, municipalities, and any other private entities and government subdivisions are encouraged to lower their flags for this same duration of time. Since no flag should fly higher than the US flag, all other flags, including state, municipal, corporate, or otherwise, should also be lowered.

Ferris Acres Creamery’s The MJ Rell — its version of a mint chocolate chip ice cream, with large dark chocolate chunks and green sprinkles surrounded by peppermint ice cream — was named in honor of the former governor.