Gladys M. Burnham
Gladys Burnham of Westville, New Haven, wife of the late Clyde Burnham, passed away peacefully on April 9, 2006 at the CT Hospice at age 94. She was born in Gaylord, Michigan on May 21, 1911 to Tadge and Frances Brown Messer. She grew up helping to raise her six brothers and sisters and raised six children in her own family. Her life was always centered on caring for and enjoying her family and her friends of many years as the family holidays always took place in her home throughout all her life. She enjoyed gardening wherever she lived and typically took pleasure in the daily events of life. While enjoying outings, card games, and golfing with her family and friends, she was always known for her warm kindness, generosity and unfailing sense of humor. While raising her family around many years of home prepared meals and baking, she also worked at times for the A.C. Gilbert Co., H.B. Ives Hardware and the former Shartenburgs Dept. Store. She was a close fan of the UCONN women's basketball team, even through the recent season. A special joy in her life was her trips with daughter Patricia Friedland to visit her family in Michigan. She is predeceased by her daughters, Barbara Jane Burnham and Susan Elaine Dunn, and her brothers, Ralph, Carl, and Herbert Messer of Travers City, Michigan. She is survived by her brother, Ernest Messer and his wife, Ruth, sister, Esther Laplander and her husband, Paul of Sault Ste. Marie, Michigan, sister, Betty Messer of Greenville, IL, children; Patricia Ann Friedland of Manhattan, NY, Dick Burnham and his wife, Jeanette of Sacramento, CA, Tom Burnham and his wife, Sheila of Hartford, CT, Steve Burnham of New Haven, and son-in-law, Brian Dunn of Michigan. She is also survived by grandchildren, Katie Dunn of Brooklyn, Matt Dunn of London, Amity and Alysen Burnham of CA and Morey Burnham of Hartford. She is also especially remembered by her closest friends, Barbara Clifford of Woodbridge and Louise Gianni of New Haven. Funeral service Thursday, April 13, at 11 a.m. in the First Church of Christ, 5 Meetinghouse Lane, Woodbridge. Friends may call at church from 10 to 10:45 a.m. Interment will follow in Beaverdale Memorial Park. Arrangements in care of BEECHER & BENNETT, 2300 WHITNEY AVE., HAMDEN.
The Burnham Family, I want to pass on my condolences on the death of your mother. I remember her as a very sweet woman. I also wish to belatedly express my sorrow on the loss of your sister,Susan. I knew Sue while I was stationed at Yale University. I felt very much for her at the time, and was quite saddened on learning of her death. I hope you will accept my being late with these, but I have had trouble finding this notice. My prayers, Kevin Gunther