Phyllis W. Gailun

Phyllis W. Gailun, age 93, of West Hartford passed away peacefully on Tuesday October 6, 2015 at St. Francis Hospital. An adored mother, beloved grandmother, and proud great grandmother, she was loved and honored by all who had the fortune of knowing her. She was born on June 7, 1922 in Waterbury, CT to Felix and Margaret Vilkas who had immigrated to the United States from Lithuania. She was raised in Naugatuck, CT and attended high school there. She graduated from Becker College in Worcester, MA in 1940. She showed an early interest in music and was in the A cappella choir throughout her school years and played the piano in the school orchestra. She was also an accomplished athlete, lettering in volleyball, basketball, and tennis. She was recognized as having a personality that radiated happiness. After college, she initially worked as a medical secretary, and then moved on to the Southern New England Telephone Company where she was a customer service rep. In 1946, she married Dr. James Gailun who established a successful dental practice in Hartford. She passionately poured herself into his career working as his medical assistant. She was a member of the Women’s Auxiliary of the Hartford Dental Society, ultimately becoming president. She was a communicant and actively involved in Holy Trinity Church early on, and then in Saint Thomas the Apostle Church. After raising two children, Phyllis embarked on a second career at Lord & Taylor in West Hartford. Over a twenty-year span, she managed six different departments, culminating as business office manager. Phyllis loved the ocean, especially Cape Cod, Kennebunkport, Maine, and Weekapaug, RI. She traveled extensively with her daughter, Janet, including trips to California, Mexico, Europe, and the Caribbean Islands. She was intellectually curious and followed current events every day in both the paper and on TV. She was a devoted fan of both the UCONN men’s and women’s basketball teams, and rarely missed a game. Most of all, Phyllis enjoyed spending time with her family and special friends. Left to honor Phyllis and remember her love are her devoted daughter and caregiver, Janet, her loving son, Ron and his wife Jeanne; four grandchildren and their spouses, Todd Gailun, Trevor and Kim Gailun, Elisabeth and Jamie Baird, and Emily and Wes Oakford; and eight great-grandchildren. Phyllis was preceded in death by her parents and former husband. The wake will be held on Sunday October 11, 2015 from 5:00 p.m. until 7:00 p.m. at the Molloy Funeral Home, 906 Farmington Ave., West Hartford. A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at 10:00 a.m. on Monday October 12, 2015 at St. Thomas the Apostle Church, 872 Farmington Ave., West Hartford. The Gailun family would like to extend our gratitude to the staff at Saint Mary Home in West Hartford for their attentive care, and especially to the staff and nurses at St. Francis Hospital who made her last days comfortable and peaceful. Memorial donations in Phyllis’s name may be made to Saint Thomas the Apostle Church.