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Mary Gray Obituary
Joan was born Feb. 12, 1932, in Middletown, the daughter of the late Ralph and Lillian (Getz) Tillbrook. The two most important things in Joan's life were her loving family and her church. Joan was a faithful member and deaconess of the Windsor Locks Congregational Church, where she also worked as a beloved nursery school teacher. Joan's passion for teaching children was evident in the many years she spent as a vacation Bible school teacher, a junior church teacher, and after retiring as a nursery school teacher she and her late husband volunteered countless hours reading to students at North Street Elementary School. Joan always had a kind word, a warm smile, a soft hug, and a kiss for everyone she met.
She is survived by her three daughters, Susan Sestito of Winter Springs, Fla., Judith Coombe, and her husband, James, of Halifax, Mass., and Alyson Gray of Windsor Locks; her five grandchildren, Joel Susaya of Charlottesville, Va., Joseph Cala, and his wife, Jennifer, of Vernon, Brianna Sestito of Winter Springs, Fla., Nathaniel and Benjamin Coombe both of Halifax, Mass.; a great-grandson, Reilly Rushforth; a brother, Ralph Tillbrook; and several nieces and nephews. In addition to her husband, she was also predeceased by her beloved son, David; and her granddaughter, Olivia Coombe.
A celebration of Joan's life will be held on Saturday, Jan. 11, 2014, at 10 a.m. at the Windsor Locks Congregational Church, 8 Main St., Windsor Locks. A private burial for Joan will be held in Swan Point Cemetery in Providence, R.I.
Joan's family will receive friends on Friday, Jan. 10, 2014, from 4 to 8 p.m. at the Windsor Locks Funeral Home, 441 Spring St., Windsor Locks.
Memorial donations in memory of Joan may be made to the Youth Challenge of Connecticut Inc., 15-17 May St., Hartford, CT 06105; or to Enfield Loaves and Fishes, 28 Prospect St., Enfield, CT 06082.
For online expressions of sympathy or directions please visit
www.windsorlocksfuneralhome.com
To plant trees in memory, please visit the Sympathy Store.
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