Joyce G Holbrook

HOLBROOK, Joyce G. Joyce G. Holbrook passed away peacefully at the age of 80 on Wednesday, (January 5, 2011). Joyce was born on February 27, 1930 in New Britain, CT. At the time of her passing she was a resident of Gladeview Health Care in Old Saybrook. Joyce previously lived in New Britain, CT, Guilford, CT, and Westbrook, CT, before moving to Gladeview. Joyce was preceded in death by her loving husband of 51 years, Sanford C. Holbrook. She was also predeceased by her parents Anthony and Mary Gasparini, her sister and brother-in-law Gloria and John Palermo and her brother Clifford Gasparini. Joyce loved music, from her early age singing in the choir in St. Mary's School in NEw Britain to the Minstrel shows in Clinton where she met her soon to be husband and even today, her love of music has been deeply instilled in her children, grandchildren and now her great grandchild. Joyce also had an immense love and sense of family. She and her sister Gloria reinstituted the Hamilla Family Picnic that now hosts over 80 to 90 people all of the same descendants that get together annually. She also held great pride in the tradition of Russian Orthodox Christmas and Easter where our families all get together for a very traditional dinner and breakfast. Joyce leaves behind her daughter Bonnie Wilmot and her husband Edward of Higganum, CT; her son Mark Holbrook and his wife Jeanne Holbrook of Westbrook, CT; she also leaves behind four grandchildren: Jennifer Holbrook of Hudson, NH, Rebecca Holbrook-Raymond and her husband Ron of Branford, CT, Elizabeth Holbrook of Salem, MA, Tom Stopa and his fiance Lindsay Boehme of Old Lyme, CT. She also leaves behind one great grandchild, Sanford Patrick James Raymond. All of her family will miss her greatly. Family and friends may visit the Swan Funeral Home, 1224 Boston Post Rd., Old Saybrook, Sunday, (January 9),6 to 8. A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at St. John Church in Old Saybrook Monday, (January 10), at 11 a.m. Interment will follow at Resurrection Cemetery in Westbrook. In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations be made to the Gloria Palermo Scholarship Fund, c/o Westboork Ambulance Assoc., Boston Post Rd., Westbrook, CT., 06498.