Obituary for Eileen Pupillo (Bird)
Eileen M. Pupillo, 94, formerly of Pawcatuck, CT passed away peacefully at Greentree Manor Nursing and Rehabilitation Facility in Waterford on March 9, 2021 with loving family close by.
Born in Bishop Stortford, Hertfordshire, England she was the daughter of the late Florence and John Bird. Eileen grew up in Bishop Stortford, attending local area schools. Growing up in World War II England, she and her family survived nights of German bombing raids during the Blitz. During those years, she volunteered with the Red Cross to support the war effort. On Dec 21, 1944, at age 18, she married Aurelius V. (Leo) Pupillo, a member of the U.S. Army’s Military Police Division stationed in Bishop Stortford. Upon his discharge from the Army, Eileen, at the age of 20, left England for good, arriving in New York on Good Friday 1946.The couple had four boys together and were married twenty-eight years before divorcing in 1972.
Eileen worked for years in the Pawcatuck Junior High School cafeteria before establishing a career in the Plan Vault and Technical Publications departments at General Dynamics, Electric Boat in Groton. She retired from EB in 1991 with 17 years of service. In subsequent years, Eileen would work part-time for Elaine’s Catering in Stonington, which brought her much enjoyment.
Upon her arrival in the states, Eileen converted to Catholicism. A devout Catholic to the end, she was a communicant of Saint Michael the Archangel Church in Pawcatuck.
Eileen was proud of her British heritage, and travelled back home many times, over the years, to visit with family. She was even prouder being a U.S. citizen and living the American life. Eileen learned early on from her mother-in-law how to cook and she excelled at traditional Italian and English dishes. She was at her happiest preparing meals and surrounded by family around the holidays. Independent in her later years, she enjoyed, traveling with friends, knitting, reading books and sitting out in the sun whether at the beach or on her deck. She was an avid fan of UConn Basketball, and New York sports teams especially her beloved Yankees.
Family brought the most joy to her life. Hers sons, and their families, were the light of her world. Eileen is survived by and will be sadly missed by sons Anthony and his wife Jannell of Waterford, Mark and his wife Lucie of Norwich, Andrew, Steven and his wife Gisela, all of Pawcatuck, nine grandchildren and eleven great-grandchildren; and numerous nieces and nephews.
In addition to her parents, Eileen was predeceased by her brother Ken Bird, and half-sisters Gladys Button and Joyce Poole.
A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at 10:00 am on Monday March 15, 2021 at St. Michael the Archangel Church in Pawcatuck. Burial to follow at St. Michael’s Cemetery, Stillman Avenue in Pawcatuck. There will be no visiting hours. Gaffney-Dolan Funeral Home, 59 Spruce St., Westerly is in care of the arrangements. For online condolences please visit www.gaffneydolanfuneralhome.com In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in Eileen’s memory to Bacon Hinkley Home, 581 Pequot Ave., New London, CT 06320
Born in Bishop Stortford, Hertfordshire, England she was the daughter of the late Florence and John Bird. Eileen grew up in Bishop Stortford, attending local area schools. Growing up in World War II England, she and her family survived nights of German bombing raids during the Blitz. During those years, she volunteered with the Red Cross to support the war effort. On Dec 21, 1944, at age 18, she married Aurelius V. (Leo) Pupillo, a member of the U.S. Army’s Military Police Division stationed in Bishop Stortford. Upon his discharge from the Army, Eileen, at the age of 20, left England for good, arriving in New York on Good Friday 1946.The couple had four boys together and were married twenty-eight years before divorcing in 1972.
Eileen worked for years in the Pawcatuck Junior High School cafeteria before establishing a career in the Plan Vault and Technical Publications departments at General Dynamics, Electric Boat in Groton. She retired from EB in 1991 with 17 years of service. In subsequent years, Eileen would work part-time for Elaine’s Catering in Stonington, which brought her much enjoyment.
Upon her arrival in the states, Eileen converted to Catholicism. A devout Catholic to the end, she was a communicant of Saint Michael the Archangel Church in Pawcatuck.
Eileen was proud of her British heritage, and travelled back home many times, over the years, to visit with family. She was even prouder being a U.S. citizen and living the American life. Eileen learned early on from her mother-in-law how to cook and she excelled at traditional Italian and English dishes. She was at her happiest preparing meals and surrounded by family around the holidays. Independent in her later years, she enjoyed, traveling with friends, knitting, reading books and sitting out in the sun whether at the beach or on her deck. She was an avid fan of UConn Basketball, and New York sports teams especially her beloved Yankees.
Family brought the most joy to her life. Hers sons, and their families, were the light of her world. Eileen is survived by and will be sadly missed by sons Anthony and his wife Jannell of Waterford, Mark and his wife Lucie of Norwich, Andrew, Steven and his wife Gisela, all of Pawcatuck, nine grandchildren and eleven great-grandchildren; and numerous nieces and nephews.
In addition to her parents, Eileen was predeceased by her brother Ken Bird, and half-sisters Gladys Button and Joyce Poole.
A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at 10:00 am on Monday March 15, 2021 at St. Michael the Archangel Church in Pawcatuck. Burial to follow at St. Michael’s Cemetery, Stillman Avenue in Pawcatuck. There will be no visiting hours. Gaffney-Dolan Funeral Home, 59 Spruce St., Westerly is in care of the arrangements. For online condolences please visit www.gaffneydolanfuneralhome.com In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in Eileen’s memory to Bacon Hinkley Home, 581 Pequot Ave., New London, CT 06320