Barbara Gaunya Bourdeau

1937 - 2026

Barbara Gaunya Bourdeau
Barbara Gaunya Bourdeau, formerly of Milford and Orange, died January 14, 2026, after a long and impactful life full of love and laughter. She was the beloved mother of three sons, Richard Michael (Michele) of Woodbridge, James Randell (Bonnie Donato) of Cheshire, and Robert Stanford of Branford. She is also survived by her cherished grandchildren: Kierstyn, Gabrielle, Patrick, Daniel, and Madeline; as well as her brother, Steven Gaunya of Hopkinton, MA; sister-in-law, Regina O'Connell of Venice, FL; brother-in-law, Rodney Bourdeau of Danbury; sister-in-law, Renee Bourdeau of Old Saybrook; her Fraizer cousins; former daughters-in-law, Jane Bourdeau and Sarah Bourdeau; and numerous nieces and nephews that she loved as her own. She was predeceased by her husband of 42 years, Richard Meda Bourdeau; her parents, Theodore and Lillian Gaunya; favorite aunt and uncle, Hazel and John Scanlon; in-laws, Roland and Rita Bourdeau; sister-in-law, Wilma Bourdeau; brother-in-law, Arthur O'Connell; and sister-in-law, Denise Gaunya.
Born in New Haven on July 10, 1937, Barbara moved up and down the eastern seaboard with her parents and younger brother during World War II, until they settled in Milford in 1946, a community that became near and dear to her beach-loving heart. Except for a 22-year exile in Orange, she lived in Milford for almost the rest of her life. She always considered Milford her home.
Barbara was a proud graduate of Milford High School (1955) and the Forsyth School of Dental Hygiene in Boston (1957). She worked as a clinical dental hygienist for over 50 years, including 10 years as Regional Dental Coordinator for the CT Department of Special Services. She was a President of both the New Haven and Connecticut Dental Hygienist Associations. She inspired two of her nieces to enter the profession. Dental hygiene was her lifelong professional passion.
Concurrently, Barbara brought her health care administrative skills to Chamberlain Ambulance Service in Milford. A co-owner with her husband, she became President in 1989. She modernized and streamlined operations. She championed professional growth for her employees. She expanded services offered to the community. Barbara and Richard were honored for their work in 1991, when they received the Milford Chamber of Commerce Lifetime Achievement Award. They sold the company to American Medical Response in 1995. After that, Barbara and Richard formed Senior Care, an insurance agency dedicated to assisting clients by providing long-term health care needs. Barbara did this until Richard's passing.
Throughout her adult life, Barbara was active in civic affairs and several local service organizations. She was a President of Milford Cooperative Nursery School, Drug Free Milford, and a long-time community volunteer, who served on many boards of directors, including Milford United Way, MILE, Milford Fine Arts Council, River Park Housing, and the Milford High School All-Class Reunion Committee.
Many of her professional and volunteer accomplishments came in male-dominated fields. She was driven to show what a woman could do if she put her mind to it. Many of her successes were due partly to talent and partly to the grit she needed to overcome obstacles in her way. When she set her mind to do something, she was a force of nature.
Barbara was also a huge sports fan, especially women's sports. A tomboy at heart, she played basketball and softball long before it was considered "lady-like". She was an ardent fan of the New York Yankees and a rabid fan of UConn basketball, especially "her girls". She was a champion of women's athletics in general and was moved to tears attending her first UConn women's basketball game, reveling in how popular it had become.
Through it all, Barbara's primary focus was her family. Her selfless devotion to her children and grandchildren was quite apparent, through numerous carpool rides, field trips, family gatherings, and attendance at too many sporting events and dance recitals to count. She will be missed by all that knew and loved her.
The family would also like to thank the many medical and care professionals who assisted Barbara these past few years. They include the staff of Coachman Square in Woodbridge, Maplewood of Orange, and the administration and aides at Visiting Angels of Woodbridge, especially Monique and Pauline, who she regarded as good friends.
Family and friends are invited to gather on Tuesday, January 20, 2026, at 4:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. at the Cody-White Funeral Home, 107 Broad Street, Milford. A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated on Wednesday, January 21, 2026, at 10:00 a.m. at Saint Agnes Church, 400 Merwin Avenue, Milford (MEET DIRECTLY AT CHURCH). Interment will be at the convenience of the family. In lieu of flowers, please consider donating to the Alzheimer's Association in the name of Barbara Gaunya Bourdeau, www.alz.org . To leave online condolences, please visit our website at www.codywhitefuneralservice.com .