Obituary: Edwina Cooney Gillis, 80, of Branford

Information via W.S. Clancy Memorial Funeral Home

Edwina Cooney Gillis of Branford, Connecticut died peacefully on July 9, 2016. She was predeceased by her husband, Howard Thomas Gillis.

Born in Hartford Connecticut on April 29, 1936, Edwina was the daughter of the late Polly Malliet and Joseph Patrick Cooney. Edwina grew up in West Hartford, Connecticut and spent Summers at Black Point Beach in Niantic where she became an accomplished sailor and competitive swimmer.

Edwina was educated at Mount Saint Joseph Academy in West Hartford and attended Marymount College in Tarrytown, New York. Following college, Edwina became a school teacher and taught elementary school at West Middle School in Hartford, Connecticut.

In 1960, Edwina married her husband Howard Thomas Gillis. They raised three children, and lived in New Haven, Connecticut and then, moved to Branford, Connecticut in 1963 where Edwina lived for the remainder of her life.

Edwina was a member of the Saint Therese Church, the Pine Orchard Club, New Haven Country Club, the Catholic Charity League, Junior league of New Haven and the Mount Snow Ski Club.

During her years as a busy mother, Edwina taught catechism, was leader of the neighborhood cub scout troop and she was director of the junior activities at the Pine Orchard Club.Edwina is survived by her three children H. Thomas (Barbara) Gillis Jr. of Branford, Joseph (Kateri) L. Gillis of Branford and Edward (Linda) M. Gillis of Guilford and nine grandchildren, Noelle, Isabelle, Gabrielle, Joseph, Sarah, Meghan, Robert, Daniel and Emily. Edwina is also survived by her sisters, Jane Dowling of West Hartford, Ann Agasi of Old Lyme, Mary Alice Belden of Newington, and Barbara Oliver of New Haven. Edwina was predeceased by her brother, Joseph P. Cooney, Jr., of New Orleans and her sister, Margaret Coughlin of Cincinnati.

Calling hours are Wednesday evening from 5:00 – 8:00 pm at the W.S. Clancy Memorial Funeral Home, 244 North Main Street, Branford, Connecticut and a Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated on Thursday at 10:00 am at Saint Therese Church, Branford, Connecticut. Burial will follow in St. Agnes Cemetery, Branford. Memorial contributions may be made to Catholic Charity League, 1419 Ridge Road North Haven, CT 06473-3057.