Gloria A. McKee

Wallingford – Mrs. Gloria A. (Knightly) McKee, passed away peacefully during her 96th year of life, surrounded by her loving daughters.

Born in Thomaston, Gloria graduated from St. Mary’s Hospital School of Nursing in 1949 and moved to California in 1950 where she nursed many famous names including, Bing Crosby, Frank Sinatra, Angela Lansbury, Fred McMurray and Vice Admiral James Stockdale. Silent movie star Lillian Gish was counted among her friends.

She married her Irish born soul mate John McKee in 1951 in Santa Monica, CA, then returned to Thomaston. With four children in tow, they moved back to John’s homeland in Bangor, North Ireland where the family ran “John McKee’s Sport Shop” on the seafront. Gloria was known affectionately at the “American Nurse”. One more child arrived in Ireland.

In 1975, the family returned back to Branford, CT, where Gloria continued her work as a nurse in various settings, with her passion being the aging population and hospice patients.

Gloria loved to regale everyone she met with stories of her life in Ireland and her gerontology nursing trip to Russia and of course, her children. Even after retiring as a nurse, her compassion and caring nature shone through in all she did from flashing a smile to a perfect stranger to volunteering at the Masonicare offices.

Many thanks form Gloria’s family to the staff on Ramage 5 at Masonicare Health Center for the kindness and love they showed Gloria on a daily basis, along with the Hospice Staff who guided us through her final journey. Gloria had a compliment for each person and sincerely loved each of her caregivers dearly.

Gloria leaves behind wonderful memories to live on with her daughters; Valerie Cipriano and her husband Bob, Linda Pierce and her husband Scott and Julie Ostuno and husband Donald; daughter-in-law, Rita McKee and she was blessed with many grandchildren and great grandchildren along with numerous nieces and nephews on both sides of “The Pond” and her beloved cousins in Thomaston. She was predeceased by her parents, her husband John McKee, her beloved sons, Michael McKee and Patrick McKee and her brothers, Paul Knightly and Peter Knightly.

As her son Paddy would frequently say “Our wee mummy was stickin’ out an’ weeker” and she will be sorely missed by all who knew her

A Mass of Christian Burial will be held privately in the fall.