Obituary of Robin Gifford

Robin Lou (Raley) Gifford, of Glastonbury, Connecticut, beloved wife of Michel (Mick) Gifford for more than 44 years, passed away at home on Friday, August 10th, 2012, surrounded by her loving family. Robin was born in Battle Creek, Michigan on August 9th, 1946, attended local schools, was a member of First Methodist Church of Battle Creek, and graduated from Battle Creek Central High School. She earned a B.A. in Elementary Education from Michigan State University. Robin married her high school sweetheart, Mick, in July 1968, and they relocated to Glastonbury, Connecticut, where they made their home and raised their three children, Lisa, Katie and Michael. Robin was employed by Glastonbury public schools, first as a second grade teacher at Hebron Avenue School and then as a favorite 6th grade substitute teacher at Academy School for 15 years. She was a 40 year member of First Church of Christ Congregational in Glastonbury, where she made many wonderful friends and served on several boards. Robin loved to travel. Her favorite places to visit were her hometown of Battle Creek; Cape Hatteras, North Carolina; and Scottsdale, Arizona. Her travels included the trip of a lifetime to Ireland with Mick, which included a breathtaking helicopter ride over Galway Bay and the Connemara Hills. She was fun-loving and never liked a party to end. She particularly treasured all of the family gatherings for holidays, birthdays, and her annual Fourth of July picnic, which included her famous three day potato salad. Robin was a devoted and loving wife, mother and grandmother who always put others' needs before her own. She always gave more than she took. Her greatest joy in life was spending time with her 9 grandchildren. She is dearly loved and will be missed by all who knew her. In addition to her husband, she is survived by her daughter Lisa M. McGill and her husband, Daniel; daughter Katie L. Sevigny; son Michael J. Gifford and his wife Jennifer, all of Glastonbury, and her nine cherished grandchildren, Conor, Erin, Sean and Brian McGill; Jack and Megan Sevigny; Anna, Holly and Benjamin Gifford; her mother Jean Raley, and mother-in-law Nadine Gifford, both of Battle Creek, her sister Linda Raley-Stolz and brother Michael Raley, also of Battle Creek, and many dear brothers- and sisters- in law, nieces and nephews. She was predeceased by her father, F. Porter Raley and father-in-law Robert D. Gifford. The family would especially like to acknowledge and thank Dr. Aaron Shafer and his staff; Jen, Rhea, Debbie, Deirdre, Sally, Zalia, Cindy and Judy of the Helen and Harry Gray Cancer Center; and the nursing staff of Hartford Hospital, North 8, for their compassionate care. A service celebrating Robin's life will be held on Wednesday, August 15th at 10:30am , First Church of Christ Congregational, 2183 Main Street, Glastonbury. Burial will follow the service. Friends may call at the Mulryan Funeral Home, 725 Hebron Avenue, Glastonbury on Tuesday, August 14th, from 5:00 to 7:00 p.m. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to the Helen and Harry Gray Cancer Center, Department of Hematology/Oncology, 80 Seymour Street, P.O. Box 5037, Hartford, CT 06102, or, as Robin instilled a love of nature in her children and grandchildren, donations may also be made to the Connecticut Humane Society, 701 Russell Road, Newington CT 06111. To share a memory please visit www.mulryanfh.com.