Ruth Harris Gillis

1927 - 2018

Gillis, Ruth Harris
Ruth H. Gillis, beloved wife of deceased Frank L. Gillis of Branford died peacefully Friday, June 8, 2018 at her home in Branford. Ruth was born in Parkersburg, West Virginia on November 6, 1927, daughter of Caroline N. Harris and Dr. Thomas L. Harris. She graduated from the Masters School in Dobbs Ferry, New York, received an Associate Degree from Finch College in New York City and completed her education at West Virginia University, Morgantown. She was a member of the New Haven Country Club and the Pine Orchard Yacht and Country Club. Ruth was a wonderful person. A former member of the New Haven Junior League, Ruth volunteered generously in the sixties at the Branford Community House, then in later years at the Branford Food Pantry, was involved as a driver for East Shore Health department and served as a eucharistic minister at St. Therese Church for over 20 years.
She is survived by her sons Frank L. "Chip" (Margie) Gillis of Westport, CT, and James H. "Rocky" Gillis of Westbrook, CT, her daughter-in-law Mrs. Thomas N. "Tracey" Gillis and son-in-law Kenneth Bussmann; her grandchildren, Kristen Gillis Eilert, Caroline Gillis Ahlberg, Patrick F. Gillis, Kyle Bussmann, Thomas N. Gillis Jr., Cordette C. Gillis and Charles E. Gillis. She is also survived by her great granddaughters Reese Ava Eilert and Taite Ruth Eilert. Besides her father and mother, she was predeceased by her husband, Frank, her son, Thomas "Doc" Gillis, and her daughter, Margie G. Bussmann.
Friends may call Thursday from 4 – 7 p.m. at the W. S. Clancy Memorial Funeral Home, 244 North Main Street, Branford, and are invited to a Mass of Christian Burial Friday morning at 10:00 a.m. in St. Therese Church, Branford. Burial will follow in St. Agnes Cemetery, Branford. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be sent to The Branford Food Pantry or The Connecticut Hospice. For directions and online memorial see www.wsclancy.com.