East Granby Obituary: Vera French, 93

Vera "Gaby" Juliette (Gabert) French, 93, of East Granby, beloved wife of the late Peter Edward French, passed away on Saturday, October 8, 2016, in Suffield.

Born in Brixton, London, England on May 8, 1923, daughter of the late Louis Michel and Ernestine May (Herlitschka) Gabert, she was raised in England and had lived in Milton, Ontario, Canada for 10 years before immigrating to the United States and settling in East Granby in 1960. During World War II, Gaby served with the Voluntary Aid Detachment (VAD) as a nurses aid in England, France and Germany. After the war, she returned to England and married Peter French.

After moving to the United States, Gaby worked as a personnel supervisor for many years at J.C. Penney before her retirement. While living in Canada she served as a Canadian Girl Guides leader and after moving to the United States she continued her involvement in the community and in her children's activities. Gaby volunteered with the East Granby Summer Theater program, the East Granby High School Drama program, and was a member of the East Granby Community players in the 1960's and 1970's.

She loved to watch her children and grandchildren's soccer games and her granddaughter's horseback riding competitions. A resident of East Granby for over 50 years, Gaby was also a member of the East Granby Historical Society and a parishioner of St. Therese Church in Granby where she had served as a lector.

She leaves two sons, Adrian French and his wife Betsy and Trevor French and his wife Patty, both of East Granby. She also leaves five grandchildren, Meagan Fisk and her husband Matthew, Austin French, Keegan French and his wife Calie, Cassie McKeown and her husband T.J., and Sam French and his fiancé, Allison Weadock. Besides her husband, she was predeceased by a daughter, Janine French; and a brother, Dennis Herbert Gabert.

Her family will receive friends on Friday, October 14, from 9:30-10 a.m., followed by Mass of Christian Burial at 10 a.m., at St. Therese Church, 120 West Granby Rd. (Route 20), Granby. Burial will follow in Elmwood Cemetery, East Granby.

Memorial donations may be made to the American Cancer Society , 825 Brook St., I-91 Tech Ctr., Rocky Hill, Connecticut 06067.

The family would like to extend a special thanks to the nurses and staff at the Suffield House and at Masonicare Partners for their care and compassion during this difficult time.