Obituary: Gertrude “Gert” Madden Altieri, 86

Gertrude “Gert” Madden Altieri died peacefully Sunday October 23 2016 at Yale New Haven Hospital. She was mother to Christopher Altieri (Louann) of Guilford, Matthew Altieri (Patti) of Cheshire and Lee Altieri (Lucie) of Guilford.

Gert was born January 4, 1930 in Randolph, MA to the late John R. Madden and Mary (Goss) Madden. She is predeceased by her sister Mary Madden of Dorchester, and brothers Raymond and Edward also of Dorchester MA.

She is survived by her sister Eleanor Farrell of Dorchester MA. She was also survived by 5 Grandchildren which she adored and mentored.

A teacher for many decades in the Wallingford, Old Lyme and Guilford school systems Gert was a dedicated elementary school teacher who impacted the lives of thousands of students. Her ability to inspire and educate was the central part of her professional life.

She was especially gifted in dealing with students who might struggle or find school a challenging experience. Gert never gave up on a student and expected great things to take place every day in her classroom.

Gert graduated from The Massachusetts College of Art where she received her BA in Art Education and Southern Connecticut State University with a degree in Masters of Science in Education.After retiring from teaching Gert continued to find new endeavors to explore by conducting exercise classes for senior citizens, volunteering at Guilford Lakes School as well as her involvement in the Delta Kappa Gamma Society.

As a volunteer at Highland House in Guilford Gert took an interest in town history and was both a guide and student in that role. She loved knitting, the theatre and literature.

She was a former member of the Democratic Town Committee. She was known as a compassionate, thoughtful and humorous person who always made people feel better about themselves whenever they encountered her. Her Irish heritage was always evident and shaped her personality and being. To have Gert as a friend was to know what a friend for life really meant.

Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at St. George Church, 33 Whitfield St, Guilford on Monday, October 31, at 10am. Burial will follow Mass in Nut Plains Cemetery, Nut Plains Rd, Guilford.

Friends may call Sunday, Oct 30 from 4 - 8 pm at the Guilford Funeral Home, 115 Church St, Guilford. Memorial contributions may be made to The Becky Light Fund, Guilford Preservation Alliance / Early Guilford Days, PO Box 199, Guilford, CT 06437. To share a memory or leave a message of condolence for the family, please visit: www.GuilfordFuneralHome.com
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