Obituary for Gabrielle "Gay" M. Haley (Brule)
Gabrielle Haley, 83, died on March 1, 2021 with her family by her side.
Gay was born October 2, 1937, in Westford, MA, the 10th and final child to Rosaire and Marie Brule. It was in the little town of Forge Village that she met her lifelong love, her husband Steve Haley. Steve and Gay married on April 12, 1958 and moved to Enfield, CT. They built their home in Southwood Acres, and it was there they met the neighbors who would become their very best and lifelong friends. These friends have been our steadfast support throughout Mom’s final months, and we are forever grateful for their love and faith-filled guidance.
With Rev. Francis Kerwan and members of the community, Steve and Gay were founding members of Holy Family Parish in Enfield. Gay was passionate about protection of the unborn and her service to the church community; as a lector, a Women’s Guild member, and volunteer for The Society of St. Vincent dePaul.
Gay worked for many years at St. Alphonsus College in Suffield, CT and our family was blessed with the friendships she and Steve made with the young seminarians and priests who spent time there. Her fondness for the Redemptorist order was a mainstay of her faith. Gay loved to travel and she and Steve enjoyed countless vacations with their family and friends.
Gay was predeceased by Steve in 2003, her loving husband of 45 years, and was an exemplary caregiver for him in his final days. She was the only remaining member of her family, having lost her parents and all 9 of her brothers and sisters as the years progressed.
Gay’s children and their spouses, Steve Jr. & Lori, Maureen & Dan, and Katie & Mark, are forever grateful for her love, support, sense of humor, and the deep faith in God that she and Steve instilled in them.
Her grandchildren Amanda, Stephen, Megan, Jack and Henry remember their Grammy as their best friend, their confidant, their favorite babysitter. Gay was never happier than when her home was filled with her grandchildren - they were the true joy and light of her life.
Gay is survived by many nieces and nephews whom she loved so much (the Woitowicz, Hartnett, Brule, and Bellida families), and too many special friends to name.
A Mass celebrating Gay’s life will be held on Friday, March 5th at 11am at Holy Family Church of St. Jeanne Jugan Parish in Enfield, CT. Please meet at church. A livestream will be available at https://sjjenfield.org/hf-live-stream Burial will be at a later date, at the convenience of the family. In LIEU of flowers, donations may be sent to National Right to Life/Birthright at https://facts.nrlc.org/donate/ or St. Vincent de Paul Society, c/o St. Jeanne Jugan Parish, 23 Simon Rd., Enfield, CT 06082. To leave online condolences, please visit www.Leetestevens.com
Gay was born October 2, 1937, in Westford, MA, the 10th and final child to Rosaire and Marie Brule. It was in the little town of Forge Village that she met her lifelong love, her husband Steve Haley. Steve and Gay married on April 12, 1958 and moved to Enfield, CT. They built their home in Southwood Acres, and it was there they met the neighbors who would become their very best and lifelong friends. These friends have been our steadfast support throughout Mom’s final months, and we are forever grateful for their love and faith-filled guidance.
With Rev. Francis Kerwan and members of the community, Steve and Gay were founding members of Holy Family Parish in Enfield. Gay was passionate about protection of the unborn and her service to the church community; as a lector, a Women’s Guild member, and volunteer for The Society of St. Vincent dePaul.
Gay worked for many years at St. Alphonsus College in Suffield, CT and our family was blessed with the friendships she and Steve made with the young seminarians and priests who spent time there. Her fondness for the Redemptorist order was a mainstay of her faith. Gay loved to travel and she and Steve enjoyed countless vacations with their family and friends.
Gay was predeceased by Steve in 2003, her loving husband of 45 years, and was an exemplary caregiver for him in his final days. She was the only remaining member of her family, having lost her parents and all 9 of her brothers and sisters as the years progressed.
Gay’s children and their spouses, Steve Jr. & Lori, Maureen & Dan, and Katie & Mark, are forever grateful for her love, support, sense of humor, and the deep faith in God that she and Steve instilled in them.
Her grandchildren Amanda, Stephen, Megan, Jack and Henry remember their Grammy as their best friend, their confidant, their favorite babysitter. Gay was never happier than when her home was filled with her grandchildren - they were the true joy and light of her life.
Gay is survived by many nieces and nephews whom she loved so much (the Woitowicz, Hartnett, Brule, and Bellida families), and too many special friends to name.
A Mass celebrating Gay’s life will be held on Friday, March 5th at 11am at Holy Family Church of St. Jeanne Jugan Parish in Enfield, CT. Please meet at church. A livestream will be available at https://sjjenfield.org/hf-live-stream Burial will be at a later date, at the convenience of the family. In LIEU of flowers, donations may be sent to National Right to Life/Birthright at https://facts.nrlc.org/donate/ or St. Vincent de Paul Society, c/o St. Jeanne Jugan Parish, 23 Simon Rd., Enfield, CT 06082. To leave online condolences, please visit www.Leetestevens.com