Loretta Nellie Girard

1938 - 2018

LORETTA NELLIE GIRARD 1938 - 2018
GRISWOLD - Loretta Nellie Girard (ne'e Squires) of Griswold and wife of Arthur E. Girard, Sr., passed away on October 25, 2018. She was born on May 1, 1938 in Coventry, CT to Etta Grace Squires (ne'e Gergler) and Arthur Edmund Squires.
In 1956, after graduating with honors (as a member of the National Honor Society) from Windham High School in Willimantic, CT, she was employed by the Univ. of Conn as a secretary in the Continuing Education Dept. for about 4 years. She met her husband to be during the summer session of 1958, while he was working on a graduate degree. They were married on June 18, 1960 at St. Thomas Aquinas Chapel, Storrs, CT and celebrated their 58th wedding anniversary this year.
Her husband entered the US Army in the Chemical Corps, leading them to Alabama for two years. While in the Alabama, the first and second of Loretta's four children (Lynn, and then Art Jr.) were born. After serving in the Army, her husband took a position with Merck Inc. in Rahway, NJ. They spent 2½ years in New Jersey before he returned to school at UConn. Just as he was completing his graduate program at UConn, Loretta had a third child (Lisa) in the midst of a wicked snowstorm, just before Easter.
When her husband completed his degree, he accepted a faculty position at the Univ. of Ct Health Center (Medical-Dental School) in Farmington. They then moved to Enfield, CT and lived there for about 5 years. During that time Loretta had her last child (Andrew). Loretta was pretty busy being a housewife and mother for the first 10-15 years of her marriage! She always has been a proud mother of all of her children, who all completed their college degrees. She also had 7 grandchildren (3 girls and 4 boys).
When her husband joined Pfizer Central Research in Groton CT, the couple moved to Griswold, Ct and have remained there since 1974. During this period, the kids were growing up and it gave her the opportunity to work outside of the home.
She held a variety of positions including: secretary/receptionist at the rectory of St. Mary's Church in Jewett City, CT and secretary/receptionist with the Ingersoll-Rand Corporation in Plainfield, CT, and even had a short stint as an Avon Lady when her youngest kids were just beginning school. She retired from the church position several years ago. In addition to her professional work, Loretta was extensively involved as a volunteer or supporter of several church and community activities too numerous to list.
She always enjoyed singing and playing the piano. During her early years she participated in square dancing (she was a state square dancing champ) and playing piano at Grange social gatherings. At one time she was in the Griswold Community Chorus, performing with them in concerts and visitations to Homes for the Elderly and Infirmed. She was also in the Pfizer Singers, again performing in concerts and visitations. Until her illness, she was part of a 5 member folk group that sings at Church services. In addition to music, Loretta was an extremely well read individual, enjoyed doing crossword puzzles and loved cats and all living things.
She accompanied her husband on many domestic and international trips to various Scientific Meetings. Some of the International trips were to: England, Iceland, Norway, Austria, and Germany. She also had a chance to visit many National Parks/Memorials and a good number of the large cities in this country (including cities in Hawaii). She frequently made a comment that she had a better time than her husband, since she had more time for site seeing etc.
Loretta was the youngest of six children and was predeceased by her parents, brothers Stewart, Douglas, and Robert Squires, sister Iris Perkins, brother-in-law Roland Peckham, nephew Richard Peckham and niece Michele Girard. She is survived by husband, Arthur, sister Beatrice Peckham of Mansfield Center, CT, children Lynn Gouvin (Ron), Arthur Jr. (Lynda), Lisa Armstrong, Andrew (Renate), and seven grandchildren: Michael Girard, Sarah and Emma Armstrong, Brian and Matthew Gouvin, Olivia and Benjamin Girard and several nieces and nephews.
Visitation hours at the Gagne-Piechowski Funeral Home, 490 Voluntown Road, Jewett City will be from 5 PM – 7 PM on Friday, Nov. 2. A Mass of the Resurrection will be held on Saturday, Nov. 3. at 10AM , in St. Mary's Church, Jewett City, CT. Burial will follow at Pachaug Cemetery, Griswold. For online condolences please go to www.gagnepiechowski.com
In lieu of flowers, the family request that donations be made in her name to: Center for Hospice Care Southeastern Connecticut, Inc., 227 Dunham St., Norwich, CT 06360 or a charity of the donor's choice. A celebration of Loretta's life will be held at a later date; persons wishing to attend, please contact a family member.