Helen Irene (Wood) Gifford (1922 - 2002)

Born 20 Jun 1922 in Norwich, New London, Connecticut, United States

Ancestors

Wife of Lester Delmar Gifford — married 14 Nov 1945 in Norwich, New London, Connecticut, United States

Died 18 Apr 2002 at age 79 in Windham, Windham, Connecticut, United States

Problems/Questions Profile manager: Dennis Main [send private message]

Biography

Helen Irene Wood was born in Norwich, Connecticut on June 22, 1922 as the first child of Fred Delor Wood and Doris Irene Main.

She trained as a nurse and worked in the nursery ward of the hospital, tending to newborns for many years of her life, which was a career she loved deeply. When her niece gave birth to triplets , she moved in and helped during the first few months of their life.

For many years, she battled breast cancer, and died of this illness.

Her parents adopted their nephew, Eugene Krause, when his mother, Gladys Main (sister of Irene's mother) died after complications from his birth. He was killed on active duty in Guam in 1964 during an accidental explosion.

She married Lester Gifford

Irene was an avid genealogist, but unfortunately, the records appear to have been destroyed or discarded after her death.

Sources

• https://www.geni.com/people/Irene-Gifford-Wood/6000000013494591929
• Find A Grave: Memorial #183785524, Saint Joseph Cemetery, Norwich, New London County, Connecticut, USA
• 1930 U.S. Fed. Census, Household of Fred D. Wood, Norwich Twp., Norwich, New London, Conn. Enum. Dist.# 6-41, Supt. Dist. #3, Sheet# 5B.
• Connecticut Vital Records — Index of Marriages, 1897-1968. Connecticut State Library. https://www.ctatatelibrarydata.org/marriage-records/
• personal account of her sister, Doris Wood Stephens