1912 – 2008
Danielson – E. Marie (Smith) Gaffney, 95, formerly of Putnam, died Wednesday, March 05, 2008 in Danielson. She was the loving wife of William P. Gaffney for 24 years, until his death in 1964. Born in UticaNY, she was the daughter of the late Edward and Blanche (Brown) Smith.
Mrs. Gaffney lived in Putnam and Wauregan for most of her life. She graduated from the PlunkettMemorialHigh School in Adams MA. She and her husband were avid Red Sox fans.
Mrs. Gaffney had her own ice cream parlor that many Wauregan children enjoyed until 1937 when a hurricane destroyed her business. Mrs. Gaffney went on to be employed by Montgomery Ward as Chief Catalog Order Clerk, DayKimballHospital as a nurse and switchboard operator, the Putnam Board of Selectmen as a clerk and justice of the peace, the MansfieldTraining School and the NortheastRegionalAdultEducationCenter. She also served as a police officer for the Putnam Police Department and was the only female Connecticut police officer at that time,
Mrs. Gaffney was a communicant of St. Mary Church of the Visitation and active in the Democratic Town Committee, as well as other town organizations.
Marie is survived by 2 daughters, Fay Ruberl of NorwalkCA, and Terry White-Lee of Fort Wayne, IN; 3 grandchildren, Peter White Jr., Kristoffer White and Kimberly Marie Peckham; and 3 great-grandchildren, Elijah Lee White, Kaeleigh Anne White and Korbin Dain White.
Relatives and friends are invited to visit with Marie’s family from 2:00 to 4:00 pm, Sunday, March 9, 2008 in the Gilman Funeral Home, 104 Church St., Putnam. A gathering will begin at 10:00 am on Monday, March 10, 2008 at the funeral home, followed by a Mass of Christian Burial at 11:00am in St. Mary Church of the Visitation, 218 Providence St., Putnam CT. Burial to follow in St.MaryCemetery. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in Marie’s memory to “Haven Health Center Activity Fund,” 111 Westcott Rd., Danielson, CT06239.
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