Reba Emma Pray

Mystic - Reba Emma (Tiziani) Ellis Pray, 88, strong, independent, outspoken, opinionated, daughter of the late Brivio Tiziani and the late Dell (Gill) Tiziani, peacefully entered into eternal life April 26, 2013.

Reba graduated from the Joseph Lawrence School of nursing in 1945 and retired in 1988 after 30 years as an occupational health nurse at Federal Paper Board Company. Reba cared about people, especially her family, and would do anything for her children. She doled out advice and opinions regardless if they were wanted or not. She would tell you what she thought, and most of the time she was right. She could be very outspoken and blunt right up to the last days of her life.

She was predeceased by her late husband, Kenneth Alden Ellis, and is survived by her husband of 54 years, Robert Pray; daughter, Reba Stoddard; son, Kenneth Ellis Jr.; two grandsons, Patrick Stoddard and Nikolaus Stoddard and three granddaughters, Dana Ellis Ming, Megan Ellis and Jamie Ellis.

She could be very stoic on the outside but very sensitive and compassionate on the inside. Reba's favorite pass times were watching the news, reading the newspaper, drinking coffee, and smoking cigarettes. Most of the time she would do these all at once while at the kitchen table, in a coffee stained bathrobe, even when dinner was burning. She was not fond of cooking unless it was Sunday dinner or a holiday. She was not fond of cleaning or shopping either, unless it was on QVC. She spent many years active in politics as a Town Councilor on the RTM for the Town of Groton. She was also the treasurer for the Occupational Health Nurses Association for a number of years. Reba was an accomplished traveler, driving across country twice with each of her kids, as she was not fond of planes. She was fond of boats traveling on six cruises and encountering six hurricanes. After she retired, she spent much of her time traveling with her husband and friends driving the RV to different destinations in the U.S. and Canada. She frequently travelled to Florida. Reba felt, if you worked hard all year, a vacation was deserved even if it meant taking out a loan. Reba loved to dance since she was a child, especially the "jitterbug" and would often do this with her husband, especially on cruises. She also liked to bowl, winning several trophies while bowling on a league. She loved to learn; going to college in her late 40's early 50's, and tutored local kids in reading at the public library. She loved her animals, 5 cats, cartoons, lighthouses, and napping after eating, which is a family trait. She always encouraged her children to "do better than we did."

Graveside services will be held at 11: 00 a.m. on Wednesday, May 1, 2013, at Elm Grove Cemetery, Route 27, Mystic, with a celebration of her life, following at the Mystic VFW Post 3263.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations be made to a charity of one's choice.

The family invites you to visit www.mysticfuneralhome.com to leave an online message of condolence.