Obituary of Gertrude Heslin

Gertrude (Walsh) Heslin Gertrude (Walsh) Heslin, 88, widow of William J. Heslin, Jr., died peacefully on Saturday (November 27, 2004) surrounded by her loving family. She was born on October 22, 1916 in New Britain, and was the daughter of the late Agnes (Hollfelder) Walsh and John J. Walsh. Gertrude was a Charter Member of St. Maurice Church and a parishioner of St. Jerome Church. A resident of New Britain all of her life, Gertrude spent the past four years in Rocky Hill. She and her husband, Billy, founder of the Heslin Dairy Company, enjoyed many summers at White Sand Beach in Old Lyme, Connecticut. They also cherished trips to Ogunquit, Maine, and southeastern Florida. As the oldest of eight children, she danced with her sisters and brothers in a dance group known as "The Walsh Kiddies.� They were well known in the New Britain area in the 1920�s and 1930�s. She retired from Stanley Works in 1980 after 20 years of service. During her retirement, her life revolved around her many grandchildren and great-grandchildren who were her life�s treasures. Gertrude is survived by one daughter and four sons, Virginia Grover and her husband William of Rocky Hill; Robert Heslin Sr. and his wife Eleanor of Palm Beach Shores, FL, William Heslin III and his wife Frederica of Marlborough, John Heslin and his wife Elena of Kensington, Patrick Heslin and his wife Marie of Kensington; She also leaves behind sixteen grandchildren, Roger Grover and his wife Donna, Tracey (Grover) McMillan and her husband James, Trisha (Grover) DeBacco and her husband Mark, Robert Heslin Jr., Alicia (Heslin) Winterbottom and her husband Robert, Patrice Heslin, Anthony Heslin, William Heslin IV and his wife Susan, Matthew Heslin and his wife Andrea, John Jr., Catherine and Lauren Heslin and Kelly, Erin, Kevin and Benjamin Heslin. She is survived by three sisters, Virginia Walsh of Palm Beach Shores, FL, Jane Walsh Conway of New Britain, and Rosemary Walsh Ryan of Palm Beach Shores, FL, three sisters-in-law, Jennie Walsh of Coventry, Ann Walsh of Niantic and Patty Ann Caselli of South Carolina. She also leaves behind twenty-one great-grandchildren. She was predeceased by her daughter Alicia Heslin, her two brothers, Dr. Robert Walsh of Coventry, Hon. John F. Walsh of Niantic, her two sisters Marion Walsh Riley of Somers and Patricia Walsh Kiniry of Kensington, and her grandson Michael Heslin of Minnesota. Funeral service will be Thursday, December 2nd, with a Memorial Mass of Christian Burial 10:00 a.m. at St. Jerome Church, 1010 Slater Road, New Britain, Connecticut. Calling hours for relatives and friends will be held from 5-8 p.m., Wednesday, December 1st at Farrell�s Funeral Home, 110 Franklin Square, New Britain.