Doris G. Gearan

Doris G. (Gay) Gearan, 90, of West Hartford, CT, formerly of Gardner, died peacefully Thursday, June 8, 2023, in The McAuley, West Hartford, CT, after an illness.

Born in Gardner on September 22, 1932, she was the daughter of the late Adelard and Marie (Roy) Gay. She graduated from Gardner High School with the Class of 1950 and later from the Henry Heywood Hospital School of Nursing. Doris was a Registered Nurse employed by Leonard Morse Hospital in Natick, where she worked in its Operating Room for 24 years before her retirement in 1981.  Soon after she returned to Gardner and the last six years she lived at The McAuley in West Hartford, CT to be close to her daughter. She was always grateful for the special care she received there. 

Doris was a parishioner of Saint Patrick’s Church of Natick, the former Sacred Heart of Jesus Church of Gardner, Annunciation Parish of Gardner, and an active participant of St. Mary’s Chapel in West Hartford. She was a member of the Gardner Museum, where she, along with her late husband Donald, was instrumental in the installation of its elevator and in starting the Festival of Trees and many other events. Doris was also a member of the Garden Club of Gardner. Don and Doris were adventurers, together they traveled the USA including a cross country camping trip with the family, and later they explored Europe, New Zealand, Israel, and many other interesting places—but they found comfort in visiting their cottage on Perkins Pond in Sunapee, NH for many summers. In her free time, Doris enjoyed gardening and knitting, where she excelled at making sweaters. Doris’ greatest joy was her family, often entertaining large gatherings and treasuring the special moments they spent together.

Doris is survived by her daughter, Michele Gearan Saulis and her husband Stephen of West Hartford, CT; two sons, Michael D. Gearan and his wife Elizabeth of Methuen, and Daniel R. Gearan and his wife Ginny of Sunapee, NH; five grandchildren, William Gearan and his wife Nicole, Donald Gearan, Kelly Murphy and her husband Patrick, Katelyn Gearan, Bryan Saulis and his wife Becky; five great-grandchildren, Matt Saulis, Zoe Gearan, Reagan Murphy, Lucas Gearan, and Riley Murphy; several nieces, nephews, and cousins.

She was predeceased by her loving husband of 60 years, Donald V. Gearan, who died in 2014, a grandson, Michael Saulis, who died in 2021, and two sisters, Claire Powers and Lorraine Laliberte.

Funeral Services will be held Tuesday, June 20, 2023, from the Boucher Funeral Home, Inc., 110 Nichols Street, Gardner, MA, with a Mass at 12:30 p.m. in Annunciation Parish at Our Lady of the Holy Rosary Church, 135 Nichols Street, Gardner, MA. Burial at the Massachusetts Veterans Memorial Cemetery, 111 Glenallen Street, Winchendon, MA, will be private.

Calling Hours will be held Tuesday, June 20, 2023, from 10:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. in the funeral home.

Memorial Contributions may be made to the Gardner Museum, 28 Pearl Street, Gardner, MA 01440. Please reference in memory of Doris G. Gearan.