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BORN
1936
DIED
2025
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Raymond Ghilardi Obituary
Raymond Peter Ghilardi, affectionately known as" Poppy", 88 of Killingworth, passed away peacefully on Sunday, February 16, 2025, at Middlesex Hospital. He was predeceased by his wife, Jacqueline (Michelin) Ghilardi. He was born in New Haven, the son of the late Gefferino and Zoe (Pinelli) Ghilardi. Ray had a full life even though at the age of 8 he was struck with polio and had paralysis in his neck. He found his love for the water from spending his days at his grandparents' home in Stony Creek. He was accepted into his beloved Navy, even with his paralysis, he served 8 years during the Cuban missile crisis. He was awarded a Quilt of Valor in 2023 thanking him for his military service. Ray worked 36 years first as a meter reader, then as a Class A Service Technician for the Southern CT Gas Company serving the city of East Haven. He loved fishing, hunting, shooting, boating and the countless family summer vacations and excursions with his wife, daughter and their dogs. He dedicated much of his time to designing his extensive model train sets. He along with Jackie built a log cabin in 1977 and ran a self-sufficient farm first in Killingworth, then moved to Higganum were the entire family, 3 generations lived and continued farming. Upon the death of Jackie, the family downsized the farm and moved back to Killingworth. Ray leaves behind his daughter and son-in-law, Debranne and Garnett Myers Jr, granddaughters, Jenni Marie Myers-Labbe (Joseph) and Emma Louise Myers-Gallacher (Ryan), great granddaughter Jane Marceline Labbe, great grandson Jack Whitney Labbe, a nephew Maurice Zide of Windhoek, Namibia and many numerous friends. He was also predeceased by his brother Robert Nello Ghilardi. A Celebration of Life will be held on Saturday April 5, 2025, at 11 a.m. at Emmanuel Episcopal Church, 50 Emmanuel Church Rd., Killingworth. In lieu of flowers, please send memorial contributions to the Killingworth Volunteer Fire Company 333 Route 81, Killingworth, CT 06419 or Middlesex Hospital 28 Crescent Street, Middletown, CT 06457.
To plant trees in memory, please visit the Sympathy Store.
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2 Entries
John Degennaro
May 21, 2025
Happy Heavenly Birthday Ray! I love and miss you more than anyone!
John E. Bud DeGennaro.
February 23, 2025
I became Family with Ray in June of 1992 at a Dinner on the Farm. His first words to me were "YOU'RE EATING AGAIN? CHRIST ALMIGHTY!" I knew he was joking and I got a sense of who he was. A Kind generous and playful Man who worked the Farm Hard every day and maintained the property himself. I learned so much from Ray in the 15 years we worked together from gas furnaces to repairing a foundation and replacing a roof on the old barn. We logged trees for firewood together. We shared a passion for American Flyer Trains. He taught me to slaughter fowl. I drove with him to bring Fowl To market and to pick up calves for beef. We both enjoyed listening to Rush Limbaugh. Ray would spend a dollar to save a penny. We were both Yankees in every sense of the word. With he and his beloved Jackie now both in Heaven it will certainly be nourished. I love you Ray. May Our Lord Jesus Christ rest your soul.
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