Gail Bird Gifford

Gail Bird Gifford of Walpole, formerly of Wellesley, died January 20, 2019 after a short illness surrounded by her family at the age of 85. She was the daughter of Courtney F. Bird and Hope Gregory, and the wife of Gordon B. Gifford, who all predeceased her. Gail attended Centenary College (now University) and The Katherine Gibbs School, before working as a secretary for Harvard University. She married Peter Conn and they had two children; her second marriage was to Gordon, with whom she enjoyed traveling to many exotic locales. Gail settled in Wellesley where she was very active in the Women’s Republican Club, Tau Beta and the Garden Club. Gail not only took great care in tending gardens, but she also tended to the needs of so many: her children, grandchildren, step-children, nieces and nephews, as well as many other family and friends, finding joy in each of their successes. Gail moved to Walpole about 15 years ago, and became an active member of the New Pond Village Community.

 

Gail leaves behind her children and their spouses, Laurie and Rich Kearney and Peter Conn and Kate Gallagher; her step-children and their spouses, Robert and Paula Gifford, Alan and Patti Gifford, and Pamela Gifford; grandchildren Daniel, Nicholas, Claire, Madeleine, Samuel, Katherine, Christine, Kimberly, Shane, Dubheasea and Aohdan, as well as her brother and his wife, Courtney and Carolyn Bird, and many nieces and nephews, who will all dearly miss her. Gail was also predeceased by her sister Nancy Pierpont and brother Greg Bird, as well as her step-son, Donnie Gifford.

 

A service of remembrance will be held at 11:00am on March 23, 2019 at the United Church in Walpole, 30 Common Street, Walpole, MA, 02081, followed by a private burial at Woodlawn Cemetery in Wellesley. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations in Gail's name may be made to the Neponset Valley Humane Society, P.O. Box 544, Norwood, MA, 02062 or via their website at neponsethumane.org.