Veronica Viola Gillespie

Veronica Viola Gillespie, 79, of East Hartford, CT, formerly of Stamford and Flowery Branch, GA, beloved wife and best friend of Kenneth Gillespie, departed this earthly life peacefully on Friday, September 12, 2025, after a thankfully brief battle with cancer. Veronica, "Precious" to her dearest friends, was born on April 1, 1946, and raised in Kingston, Jamaica. She was the daughter of the late Edward and Ivy (Lawrence) Vassell and graduated from Vauxhall Secondary School in 1963. Prior to migrating to the U.S. Veronica worked at Bata Shoe Company in Jamaica, where she met the love of her life Kenneth and they raised their family of four children. After coming to the states in 1979, Veronica worked as a Nurses Aid at Greenwich Woods Nursing Home, where she enjoyed taking care of her elderly patients and retired after 20+ years of service. Her giving heart and strong work ethic and drive inspired her family to be the very best they could be every day and to always remember to celebrate the joys of life. Veronica will always be remembered as a loving and devoted wife, mother, grandmother, great grandmother, aka " GG", sister, aunt, and dear friend. She believed that family gatherings were important, dressing for any occasion, laughing out loud (oh that cackle is legendary) and feeding her family with the best Jamaican dishes. She will be fondly remembered as a kind, caring, and compassionate woman who loved her family more than anything. She taught her children and grandchildren the value of faith, family, respect, discipline, decorum and to treat people the way you would want to be treated. She was the glue and central information center for her family and friends. She was not afraid to try new things, be it food, fashion, Facebook reels or Instagram. Her kindness and generosity knew no bounds, and she was usually one, if not the first person to "like" and/or positively comment on a Facebook post or picture. Veronica was a member of Crossroads Community Cathedral in East Hartford (and previous member of Free Chapel in GA), where she enjoyed praising her Holy Father and serving as a greeter on Sundays, a member of the senior "Keenagers" and the women's "Loving Your Everyday Life" groups. Though we are currently deeply saddened, we have no doubts that we will see her again, standing at the feet of our heavenly Father, welcoming us with arms wide open. In addition to her beloved, Kenneth, Veronica leaves behind to celebrate her life, her children, Karlene Barnes (Garth) of Stratford, Anthony Vaz (Claudia) of Hicksville, NY, Cheryl Gorham of East Hartford, and Edu Gillespie of Stamford; her eight grandchildren, Camishiana Vaz, Kerianne Vaz, Uriah Vaz, Dwight Barnes, Damian Barnes, Lelani Gorham, Adrian Gorham, and Naomie Gorham; her great grandchildren, Kaynan Ogeleza and Zaria Ogeleza; her brother, Dennis Vassell; cousins Miriam Mais and Thomas Mais; and a host of relatives and dear friends both here and abroad. Besides her parents, Edward and Ivy, she was predeceased by her sister, Beverly Paul; and aunts, Phyllis Mais and Cynthia Mais. Her family would like to extend a special thank you to the doctors, PCAs, nurses and palliative team at Hartford Hospital, especially the CB2 team. You all took great care of Veronica, was consistently kind and made a very emotional and difficult time, bearable. While Veronica loved a beautiful bouquet, in lieu of flowers, tribute donations may be made to either of the following: Hartford Hospital – Harry & Helen Gray Cancer Center 1. Online: https://giving.hartfordhospital.org/tribute/ 2. Phone: 860-972-2322 3. Mail: Hartford Hospital, Department of Philanthropy, 80 Seymour Street, P.O. Box 5037, Hartford, CT 06102. Make checks payable to Hartford Hospital Crossroads Community Cathedral - Missions 1. Online: https://www.myccc.church/give/ 2. Text the word GIVE and any dollar amount (GIVE $15) to 888-573-6051 and follow the prompts. 3. The Church App 4. Mail:1492 Silver Lane East Hartford, CT 06118. Make checks payable to Crossroads Community Cathedral. Her family will receive friends on Thursday, September 25, 2025, 10-11 a.m., with a Celebration of Life, 11 a.m., at Crossroads Community Cathedral, 1492 Silver Lane, East Hartford.