The present invention concerns hydroxyaliphatic functional diglycidyl ethers of bisphenols (epoxy resins); curable (thermosettable) mixtures of at least one hydroxyaliphatic functional epoxy resin and at least one curing agent and/or catalyst therefor, as well as cured (thermoset) compositions prepared therefrom; and derivatives prepared therefrom. The bisphenol precursor to the diglycidyl ether contains a hydroxyaliphatic group linkage between the two aromatic rings of the bisphenol.