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02/02/2023 11:47 AMJanyce (Gannon) Gilman, 88, of Branford, passed away peacefully with her family beside her on Jan. 24.
She was born in New Haven to the late Walter and Anna (Meroth) Gannon. Janyce was predeceased by her loving husband, Robert Gilman after 51 years of marriage. She was also predeceased by her brother Edward J. and Walter F. Gannon and two sisters, Ann (Nancy) Halligan and Arlene Murphy.
Janyce is survived by her only daughter Susan; five sons, Robert, Stephen (Fanny), Michael (Linda), Patrick, and Matthew (Megan); eight beloved grandchildren, Morgan, Kacey, Alejandro, Stephen, Nicole, Matthew, James and Nora; sisters, Marilyn Kozin (Bohdan) and Margie Slater (Bill); and 20 adoring nieces and nephews.
Janyce graduated from Sacred Heart Grammar school and St. Mary’s High School, Class of 1951. She returned to school to receive her Bachelor of Science in Human Services from New Hampshire College at the age of 50. She attended Southern Connecticut State University for her Master’s in Social Work. Janyce was employed by the U.S. Department of higher education as a social services cCoordinator and as an education counselor for the disadvantaged under a federal grant program that served the Greater New Haven area, based at Gateway Community College on Long Wharf. She was the social service director for the Head Start West Haven Community House.
Both she and Bob enjoyed traveling throughout the U.S. and Europe. They both served as Eucharistic ministers at Our Lady of Victory Church; additionally, she was a CCD instructor for 20 years. Janyce volunteered at Columbus house in New Haven and was very involved in Catholic Social Action. She loved serving her community whether in West Haven, California, Florida, or Branford, which was due to her love for people and serving others.
Janyce will be remembered most for the way she made people feel special and loved. She remained intelligent and interesting in this ever-changing and evolving world, and her opinion and advice were sought after by many as she was held in such high esteem and with great respect. She had an incredibly contagious laugh that was distinct and heartwarming. She grew up with a strong sense of family and retained details of her life with her ancestors that she shared often. She was a great family historian, and her attention to such detail accompanied her Irish gift of storytelling.
We will miss her raspy voice and twinkling blue eyes. And how she made us all feel so special.
She now leaves us guided by love and angels.
Visiting hours were on Jan. 29 at the W. S. Clancy Memorial Funeral Home, 244 North Main Street, Branford. Her funeral left the funeral home on Jan. 30 for a Mass of Christian burial at 10 a.m. in St. John Bosco Parish at St. Mary Church, 731 Main Street, Branford. Burial followed in All Saints Cemetery. For directions and online memorial see www.wsclancy.com.