Bronwen M. Gosselin

Bronwen May Gosselin, 87, of New Britain, widow of the late Richard A. Gosselin, her family's inspiration and life's guide was tragically taken from her loving family at the height of Hurricane Sandy on October 29, 2012. Born January 4, 1925 in Merthyr Tydfil, South Wales, United Kingdom she was the daughter of the late Oliver and Eugenia (Mizen) Williams. Bronwen, affectionately known as Bron and Billie to her friends and Mumsie to her children and their friends was known as a loving, but fiercely independent woman of many talents and strong convictions with a wry sense of humor. Bronwen lived in London through the WWII Battle of Britain and survived the nightly German bombing and destruction of London. She recounted the nights when a constable watchman could be heard knocking on a door angrily when windows revealed a glimmer of light for the bombers to target in on. During the war effort she worked five years for the Admiralty, a former military department of England from Bath to London. For a time during the Battle of Britain she proudly worked in an underground aircraft factory inspecting Spitfire parts. The war left emotional scars, but gave her a stiff upper lip to deal with life's challenges. After the war she worked as a nurse at the Royal Mineral Water Hospital for Rheumatic Diseases, Bath, England before coming to the States in 1948. Bronwen settled in Massachusetts where she met and married her future husband Richard and they raised a family of four children in Westfield. Bronwen worked for Pat Reach Floral Decorations for eight years where she developed creativity in arts and crafts. After moving to East Aurora, NY, she took to the ski slopes of western NY and became an accomplished downhill skier. Upon moving to CT she would travel with friends Ola and Joe Ferla to ski the Swiss Alps in St. Moritz, Italian Alps in Bormio and often at Killington, VT. While living in Hartford Bronwen managed the St. Francis Hospital gift shop until her retirement in 1993. Bronwen volunteered at Windham Hospital and St. Joseph Living Center, Windham. After moving to York, Maine, she also volunteered at York Hospital where she shared the joy of fellowship and giving back with her volunteer girlfriends Diane Keeney, Barbara Nicholson and Jan Cibulas. A lover of water and the gifts bestowed by the Atlantic Ocean, she had acquired a collection of sea glass from York, ME, Lyme Regis, England and her favorite local beach in the Fenwick Borough of Old Saybrook, CT. Bronwen came to live in New Britain with family in 2010 while in failing health. She soon described her new digs as "boot camp." In short order she was walking one to two miles daily at Walnut Hill Park and the Crescent Lake recreation area. Hikes were an adventure to bring home feathers and the fall leaves for pressing. Always at her feet was her faithful Shepard-Collie partner Harly. In no time at all her health improved and she came alive while busily enjoying the New Britain Symphony, local plays and shows and gardening. Most evenings found her playing hands of gin rummy while enjoying the company of Tola, Pam, Burnsie and Jimbo all who would come to learn that the rules of fair play were governed by what Mumsie held in her hand. She enjoyed the company of her adopted daughter Debi Coburn-Gosselin who gave the gift of her first grandsons. Mumsie spent countless hours shaping and raising the grandchildren as she did her own brood. She is survived by her sons Lt. James Gosselin of the Berlin Police Department, New Britain, Christopher Gosselin, New Britain, Gregory Gosselin of York, Maine, and Sharon Gosselin of Hampton, CT. She also leaves her grandchildren Trevor and Jason and his wife Jenna and Zak, Ryan and Savannah Tyler of Connecticut. In Wales, United Kingdom, she leaves cousins Frank Mizen and his wife Pat and Mary Perret and her husband Les. What was it like with Mumsie raising four kids while her husband lived in a Massachusetts State Police Barracks? Misbehaving and regretting the words, "Wait until your father gets home" the "kids" remember being chased with a yard stick, handy frying pan or having a "taste of soap" for lying, cursing or similar offenses. There were good times like taking a bed mattress to toboggan down the second floor staircase out the front door of the house with Mumsie at the helm. Watching Mumsie fearlessly swinging on a Tarzan swing at the reservoir, but failing to let go until she met a tree or, building snow forts and losing to your mother in snowball fights, special memories all. Her favorite holiday was Christmas as evidenced by the cheery decorations throughout the house and yard. Like a kid herself she loved to get as much as give presents, many of which she would find hidden in the attic the following July. Mumsie had to be handy around the house. While watching her defrost the old icebox using a butter knife to chip away at the ice we also got to watch her fly across the kitchen when she received an electric shock. Whether as a young mother or recently as a grandmother in her eighties, it was always a surprise to have her crawl on all fours into your darkened bedroom to scare the living daylights out of you. The past two years Mumsie enjoyed drinking a tot of Harvey's Bristol Cream or a Tanqueray gin and tonic while shellacking us at cards or while sitting at night in the front yard watching the moon and stars, listening to crickets and admonishing the cars traveling through the stop sign at the nearby corner. Mumsie always playfully said, "If you have a mother you should cherish her with care because you don't know her value until you've seen her vacant chair." How true. Ta-ta for now Mum. The family wishes to acknowledge the love and support of Dick and Nancy Judd our dear friends who have helped carry us through the joys, trials and tribulations of family life. And to Mum's companions Anna Lisa, Mary Ann, Galina and Olga and the folks at Day Break at Farmington, especially her driver Greg. Potter Funeral Home, Willimantic, CT is assisting in arrangements. For any online expressions of sympathy to the family please visit www.potterfuneralhome.com . A private service will be held on November 18, 2012. Memorial contributions may be made to Mooreland Hill School, 166 Lincoln Street, Kensington, CT 06037 or the New Britain Symphony, P.O. Box 1253, New Britain, CT 06050.