Loretta Girard
Griswold — Loretta Nellie (Squires) Girard of Griswold, wife of Arthur E. Girard Sr., passed away on Thursday, Oct. 25, 2018.
She was born on May 1, 1938, in Coventry, to Etta Grace (Gergler) Squires and Arthur Edmund Squires.
In 1956, after graduating with honors (as a member of the National Honor Society) from Windham High School in Willimantic, she was employed by the University of Connecticut as a secretary in the continuing education department for about four years. She met her husband-tobe during the summer session of 1958 while he was working on a graduate degree. They were married on June 18, 1960, at St. Thomas Aquinas Chapel, Storrs, and celebrated their 58th wedding anniversary this year.
Her husband entered the U.S. Army in the Chemical Corps, leading them to Alabama for two years. While in Alabama, the first and second of Loretta’s four children (Lynn and then Art Jr.) were born. After serving in the Army, her husband took a position with Merck Inc. in Rahway, N.J. They spent two and a half years in New Jersey before he returned to school at UConn. Just as he was completing his graduate program at UConn, Loretta had a third child (Lisa) in the midst of a wicked snowstorm, just before Easter.
When her husband completed his degree, he accepted a faculty position at the University of Connecticut Health Center (Medical-Dental School) in Farmington. They then moved to Enfield and lived there for about five years. During that time Loretta had her last child (Andrew). Loretta was pretty busy being a housewife and mother for the first 10-15 years of her marriage! She always has been a proud mother of all of her children, who all completed their college degrees. She also had seven grandchildren (three girls and four boys).
When her husband joined Pfizer Central Research in Groton, the couple moved to Griswold and have remained there since 1974. During this period, the kids were growing up and it gave her the opportunity to work outside of the home.
She held a variety of positions including: secretary/ receptionist at the rectory of St. Mary’s Church in Jewett City, and secretary/receptionist with the Ingersoll-Rand Corp. in Plainfield, and even had a short stint as an Avon Lady when her youngest kids were just beginning school. She retired from the church position several years ago. In addition to her professional work, Loretta was extensively involved as a volunteer or supporter of several church and community activities too numerous to list.
She always enjoyed singing and playing the piano. During her early years she participated in square dancing (she was a state square dancing champ) and playing piano at Grange social gatherings. At one time she was in the Griswold Community Chorus, performing with them in concerts and visitations to homes for the elderly and infirm. She was also in the Pfizer Singers, again performing in concerts and visitations. Until her illness, she was part of a five-member folk group that sings at church services. In addition to music, Loretta was an extremely well-read individual, enjoyed doing crossword puzzles and loved cats and all living things.
She accompanied her husband on many domestic and international trips to various scientific meetings. Some of the international trips were to England, Iceland, Norway, Austria, and Germany. She also had a chance to visit many National Parks/Memorials and a good number of the large cities in this country (including cities in Hawaii). She frequently made a comment that she had a better time than her husband, since she had more time for sight-seeing, etc.
Loretta was the youngest of six children and was predeceased by her parents; brothers, Stewart, Douglas, and Robert Squires; sister, Iris Perkins; brother-in-law, Roland Peckham; nephew, Richard Peckham; and niece, Michele Girard.
She is survived by her husband, Arthur; sister, Beatrice Peckham of Mansfield Center; children, Lynn Gouvin (Ron), Arthur Jr. (Lynda), Lisa Armstrong, Andrew (Renate); and seven grandchildren, Michael Girard, Sarah and Emma Armstrong, Brian and Matthew Gouvin, Olivia and Benjamin Girard; and several nieces and nephews.
Visitation hours will be from 5 to 7 p.m. Friday, Nov. 2, at the Gagne-Piechowski Funeral Home, 490 Voluntown Road, Jewett City. A Mass of the Resurrection will be held at 10 a.m. Saturday, Nov. 3, in St. Mary’s Church, Jewett City. Burial will follow at Pachaug Cemetery, Griswold.
For online condolences please go to www.gagnepiechowski.com
In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made in her name to Center for Hospice Care Southeastern Connecticut, Inc., 227 Dunham St., Norwich, CT 06360 or a charity of the donor’s choice.
A celebration of Loretta’s life will be held at a later date; persons wishing to attend, please contact a family member.