Agnes E. Tompkins

Groton - Agnes E. (McMullen) Tompkins, 77, of Groton, went home to the Lord on Tuesday, Nov. 4, 2014.

The daughter of the late Agnes and John McMullen, she was born on Jan. 2, 1937, in the grand city of New York.

Agnes was a member of Sacred Heart Church in Groton where she was a eucharistic minister for many years. She retired from Groton Utilities, spent many summer evenings at Eastern Point Beach, organized too many family get togethers to count, and loved to shop for the latest bargain.

Agnes enjoyed telling stories of her childhood in the city to her grandchildren and thrilled them with the tale of her gang, The Devils. Grandma Aggie, or G as she often referred to herself, was always good for a laugh, a hug, a snippet of wisdom, or a sweet treat. She will fondly be remembered for her love of the Buffalo Bills, singing birthday phone calls, and ending every family prayer with a stunning rendition of God Bless America. She was our matriarch in every sense of the word and will be missed by many.

Agnes graduated from the High School of the Blessed Sacrament in 1954, and shortly thereafter started what would be her greatest source of pride, her family.

She is survived by her eight children, Donna and Karl Holman, Barbara and John Aspinwall, Doreen and Joe Wilson, Robert and Bonnie Tompkins, and Daniel Tompkins, all of Groton, Claire and Roger Thayer of Ashaway, R.I., Roger Tompkins and Ellen Hollander of Gales Ferry, and Marion Mayo of Norwich; as well as 27 grandchildren and 7 great-grandchildren who will inherit her legacy of love, compassion, and a servant's heart. She also leaves behind her beloved siblings, Mary, Barbara, Theresa and Johnny, all of New Jersey.

She was predeceased by her brother, Robert McMullen; her brother-in-law, Peter Morgan; and her daughter-in-law, Deborah Tompkins.

A Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 10:30 a.m. Friday, at Sacred Heart Church, Groton. Interment will be in Elm Grove Cemetery, Mystic. Visiting hours will be from 4 to 7 p.m. Thursday, at the Byles-Groton Memorial Home, 301 Thames St., Groton.

In lieu of flowers, donations in her memory may be made to Sacred Heart Church, Sacred Heart Drive, Groton, CT 06340 or Safe Futures, 16 Jay St., New London, CT 06320.

Please visit www.byles.com to send condolence or sign the guestbook.