Groton - Margaret I. Healy Gill "Peggy",  passed away peacefully in Groton, CT, on January 14th, 2010.  Born Margaret Irene Healy on Sept. 7, 1923, in Port Chester, NY, daughter of the late Jeremiah Healy and the late Margaret Price Healy. She married Donald W. Gill of Jewett City, CT,  in 1943.

She assisted with his veterinary practice, and raised their family of seven children in Brooklyn, CT, from 1946 to 1974.  She was active in Girl Scouting throughout her early life. She was interested in housing design and designed the family's second house in Brooklyn, CT. In 1974 the family moved to Nova Scotia, Canada where they farmed in White Hill and Tatamagouche. Peggy  later designed several cabins on the North Shore, where she developed a cottage rental business in Great Village. She returned to northeastern CT in 1995.  She was a long-time member of Trinity Episcopal Church, Brooklyn, CT, and later attended Christ Church, Pomfret, CT.  She remained active in the choir for many years.  She enjoyed sailing, camping, designing structures, and traveling to visit her extensive family. She graduated from University of Connecticut in 1944. She earned a Masters degree from Hartford Seminary in Religion and Psychology in 1969, and practiced family counseling in Putnam, CT, before moving to Nova Scotia 1974. Margaret was the last surviving member of her immediate family. 

She is survived by her seven children:  Leila F.J. Gill of Southborough, MA and son Aubrey L. Lord; Carolyn Gill Denoncourt of Jacksonville, FL and daughters Alison Peterson, Laura D. Hackle and Dawn M. Denoncourt; Jeremiah H. Gill of Denmark, ME;  Jonathan P. Gill of Martha’s Vineyard, MA and son Joshua Gill; Patrick D. Gill of Newton, WV and children Tara Gill Mahoney and Nathaniel J. Gill; Maryellen Gill Lambert of Anchorage, AK and children Adrien P. Lambert  and G. Monique Lambert; Andrew P. Gill of Musquodoboit, Nova Scotia and children Joseph A. Gill, Jacob B. Gill, Jessica C. Gill and Jonathan D. Gill. She also leaves her three great-grandchildren Josiah P. Mahoney, Glorianna R. Mahoney and Elsalynn G. Mahoney.  She was predeceased by her former husband, Donald W. Gill. She will be buried in South Cemetery in Brooklyn, CT, beside the graves of her mother and maternal grandmother.

A memorial service will be held on January 30th at 11:00 a.m. at Christ Episcopal Church, Pomfret, CT. In lieu of flowers, donations in her memory can be sent to Fairview, 235 Lestertown Road, Groton, CT 06340, or to a cancer charity of your choice. Messages of condolences may be sent through Smith and Walker Funeral Home at 148 Grove Street, Putnam, CT 06260, or share a memory through “Light a Candle” at  www.smithandwalkerfh.com