Obituary of Mary Ellen Gaffney

Mary Ellen (McAuliffe) Gaffney, of New Britain, died on February 23, 2012, after an extended illness. The daughter of the late Vincent W. and Mildred (Lange) McAuliffe, she is survived by her husband of more than fifty years, Judge Bernard D. Gaffney of New Britain, and their four children Attorney Bernard F. Gaffney and his wife Maureen (Doherty) of Simsbury; Sue Ellen Goodrich and her husband Stephen of Bristol; Kathryn G. Lancia and her husband Joseph of Greenville, South Carolina; and Sharon G. Walsh and her husband Thomas of Patuxent River, Maryland. Additionally, she leaves thirteen grandchildren whom she dearly loved: Bernard, Brendan, Meghan and Mary Kate Gaffney; Mackenzie, Morgan and Stephen Goodrich, Jenna, Kara and Krista Lancia; and Brendan, Conor and Eileen Walsh. Mrs. Gaffney was predeceased by her brothers Vincent and Ted McAuliffe. A graduate of New Britain of Teacher's College (now Central Connecticut State University), Mrs. Gaffney taught for several years at the elementary level in the Meriden public school system. In more recent years, she served as a volunteer and member of the board of directors of the New Britain General Hospital Auxiliary, on the board of directors of the Sheldon Guidance Clinic, on the board of trustees of the Community Mental Health Affiliates (CMHA), and as a long time member of the New Britain Council of Catholic Women. In the 1960's she was an elected member and officer of the New Britain Democratic Town Committee and served as a state appointed Justice of the Peace. Funeral services will be held Monday (Feb.272012) 9:00 A.M. from the Farrell Funeral Home 110 Franklin Square with a Mass of Christian Burial at 10:00 A.M. at St. Maurice Church 100 Wightman Road New Britain. Burial will follow in St. Mary Cemetery New Britain. Visitation will be Sunday from 2:00 to 5:00 P.M. at the funeral home.