Christine C. Gillis

1934 - 2021

Canton, N.C. - Christine C. Gillis, daughter of the late Hazel (Strong) Morgan, passed away peacefully Sept. 5, 2021, at the Silver Bluff Village in Canton, N.C. Christine was born June 24, 1934, in Greenfield, Mass., the daughter of the William T. Clark and Hazel S. Morgan. She grew up in Greenfield, Mass,, Schenectady, N.Y., New London and North Stonington. She graduated from New London High School with the class of 1952.

Christine lived and raised her family in Ledyard. She worked for several years for Clark Transportation in Ledyard as a school bus driver and as a waitress at Sailor Ed's in Mystic. In the mid-70s Christine went back to school and was trained to be a licensed practical nurse (LPN). After her certification for LPN she worked many years at the Lawrence + Memorial Hospital in the emergency department (ED). She loved the fast and furious pace of the ED. In the mid-80s, she was unable to work as nurse due to a chronic back injury. In the mid-80s she purchased and operated a package store for several years in Uncasville with Benjamin Gillis and they renamed it Gentle Ben's Packie. Following the sale of the package store, she moved back to North Stonington with her mother Hazel and stepfather Harold to help care for them in their later years. In 2011 she moved to Plainfield with her son Benjamin and daughter-in-law Laurie. In 2018 she moved to Canton, N.C. with her son and daughter-in-law.

Christine loved to paint, knit and sew. She took art classes and created many of her own paintings that she gave to family members and friends. She knit many baby sweaters and donated them to L+M Hospital for newborn babies. She was a member of the Interfaith Stitchers at Westfield Church in Danielson. She spent countless hours knitting prayer shawls for nursing home residents and others in need. She continued to knit until only recently. She was still sewing almost to her final days, altering a pair of slacks so they would fit her better. Christine also loved dogs. Over the years she had many dogs including Hugo, Shultz, Helga, Inga and Princess.

Christine is survived by her daughter, Cheryl G. Murdock and her husband Terry of Uncasville; and her two sons, Benjamin A. Gillis Jr. and his wife Laurie of Canton, N.C. and Harold M. Gillis and his wife Cindy of Griswold. She is also survived by her five grandchildren and spouses, Grant Murdock of Chesapeake, Va., Benjamin A. Gillis III and his wife Laura of Asheville, N.C., Elizabeth Gillis of Groton, Rebecca Devan and her husband Alex of Fletcher, N.C. and Ian Gillis of Griswold; and one great-grandson Thomas Gillis; and one step great-grandson Owen Fountain. She is also survived by her beloved cousin Ethel (Strong) Ossolinski and her husband Richard (Ozzie) of South Gouldsboro, Maine.

Besides her beloved mother Hazel, she was predeceased by her father William T. Clark; her stepfather Harold N. Morgan; and her former husband Benjamin A. Gillis.

Funeral services will be held at 11 a.m. Saturday, Sept. 18, at Buckler-Johnston Funeral Home, 121 Main St. Westerly, RI. A calling hour will precede the funeral from 10 to 11 a.m. Burial will be in the Union Cemetery, North Stonington following the funeral.

In lieu of flowers, donations in her memory may be made to the Interfaith Stitchers at Westfield Church at 210 Main St, Danielson, CT and/or to the Silver Bluff Village Arrowhead Cove Assisted Living, 100 Silver Bluff Dr., Canton NC 28716, who provided her with exceptional care and comfort for the last one an a half years of her life.