Maura A. Gray

Maura A. Gray, 51, of Tolland, a beloved sister and aunt who twice stepped away from her career to care for her parents and to be her family's rock, died in her sleep on Sunday, Dec. 19, 2010.

A retired McDonald's Corp. executive and a 1981 Phi Beta Kappa graduate of the University of Connecticut, she was the second of seven children, born March 10, 1959, in Brooklyn, N.Y., to the late Thomas M. and Joanne M. Gray. The family moved to Tolland in 1971, where except for work assignments in Illinois, Massachusetts, and Ohio, she lived for the rest of her life.

She leaves behind her sister, Ellen Gray, and brother-in-law, Alan J. Heavens; brother, Edward R. Gray II, and his companion, Susan Flythe; brother, James J. Gray, and sister-in-law, Patricia Marti; sister, Alice Sexton, and brother-in-law, Terence Sexton; sister, Elizabeth Costa, and brother-in-law, Michael Costa; and sister, Alexandra Sapper, and brother-in-law, Brett Sapper; as well as the Gray family's unofficial eighth child, Kate Rooney, and her husband, Steven Chipman. She is also survived by her maternal aunts, Helen O'Neill and Barbara O'Keefe; and by her uncle, Neal O'Keefe.

She was passionate about family, friends, the New York Giants, and the UConn women's basketball team, traveling to see UConn play - and win - in three Final Fours. She brought the same passion to everything she did, whether it was the entertainment of her nieces and nephews, talking sports and politics, or baking pies with friends every Thanksgiving. She was only slightly less passionate about McDonald's, for which she began working while still in high school, rising to store manager at the age of 21. She worked for McDonald's, except for a break of several years during which she was employed by Martin-Brower, a major supplier for McDonald's. When she left in 2008 to oversee the care of her mother during her final illness, she had been store systems director for McDonald's USA's East Division.

One of the world's most enthusiastic and appreciated aunts, she will be forever missed by Nicholas and Patrick Gray Heavens, Emily, Isabella, and Thomas Gray, Daniel and Tierney Sexton, Morgan Sapper, Alexandra, Catherine, and Michael Costa, and Hunter and Jake Chipman.

Relatives and friends may gather Monday, Dec. 27, at St. Matthew Church, Tolland, for a Mass of Christian Burial at 10 a.m. Burial will follow in South Cemetery, Tolland. Calling hours will be Sunday, Dec. 26, from 2 to 5 p.m. at the Tolland Memorial Funeral Home, 375 Merrow Road (Route 195), Tolland.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made in her name to CPTV, 1040 Asylum Ave., Hartford, CT 06105, which airs virtually all of the games of her beloved UConn Huskies women's basketball team.

For online condolences, please visit

www.pietrasfuneralhome.com