Obituary of Margaret Ann Gillard

Margaret Ann (Pino) Gillard, age 88, of Trumbull passed away suddenly on Saturday, September 28, 2024 at St. Vincent’s Medical Center. Born in New York, NY on September 1, 1936, she was a daughter of the late Joseph and Anna (Samble) Pino and was a resident of New York for 80 years before moving to Connecticut in 2016 to be nearer to family.

Margaret had a love for spirituality and medicine, which steered her toward becoming a nurse and earning a master’s degree in Pastoral Care. Her work in the field trained her to put others before self and that carried into her personal life. She devoted countless hours as a hospice volunteer, she was an ardent feminist, a voice for women's rights, she loved her family fiercely, and was always available to anyone in need of a compassionate ear.  A woman of great faith, Margaret was a devout Catholic and actively attended St. Martin's RC Church in Amityville, NY and, most recently, St. Theresa Church in Trumbull. She was a voracious reader of varied topics and enjoyed discussing thoughts and ideas with others who shared similar interests.  In recent years, Margaret converted her garage into what became known as her "She Shed"; it was a welcoming place where she and her beloved neighbors gathered to share laughs and support one another.  Her passing will be felt as a tremendous loss to her family and the Long Hill Village community where she resided these past many years.  She will be deeply missed by all who knew and loved her. 

Survivors include her loving children - Kathleen Bivona and her husband Douglas; Maureen Gillard and her husband Geoffrey Hinchliffe;  Patricia Gillard and her husband Brian J. Reilly; William A. Gillard, III and his wife Sandra Baracaldo;  beloved sisters - Joan Pino and MaryAnn Fiume, along with MaryAnn's two daughters, Kelly & Chelsea, and MaryAnn's husband Dennis; cherished grandchildren - Ryan Bivona and his wife Stefanie; Ashley (Bivona) Salvi and her husband Matthew; Jeffrey Bivona and his wife Lauren; Anna Bivona and her fiancé Nicholas Harper; Amanda Henderson and her husband Deven; and  adored great grandchildren:  Abigail Bivona, Caden Salvi, Luca Bivona, Emma & Olivia Henderson.

A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated on Saturday, October 5, 2024 at 11:00 a.m. directly in St. Theresa Church, 5301 Main St., Trumbull. Interment will be held privately at the convenience of the family. Relatives and friends may greet the family on Friday, October 4, 2024, from 1:00 to 3:00pm and 4:00 to 7:00 pm in the Abriola Parkview Funeral Home, 419 White Plains Rd., Trumbull.

In lieu of flowers memorial contributions may be made to UCONN Health-Wilmont Memorial Fund (mailing address:  UCONN Health Anatomical Donation Program, 263 Farmington Ave, Am 049, Farmington, CT 06030-1833) or to Bridgeport Rescue Mission Food Pantry, 725 Park Ave., Bridgeport, CT 06604.

For online condolences, please visit us at www.abriola.com.