Bridget Colette Horbury

Bridget Colette Horbury, 83, of Swampscott, MA and Milford, CT, died peacefully on August 16, 2018, from complications of Alzheimer’s disease. She spent her final days surrounded by her children, grandchildren, and her loyal Corgi companion, Molly. Colette was born in Mountcharles, Donegal, Ireland, the daughter of John Dunne and Annie Maria Faulkner.

Colette grew up in Ballintra, Donegal, and attended boarding school at the Sisters of Mercy Convent in Strabane, County Tyrone. In her late teens, her family moved to Dublin where she lived and worked until meeting her British husband, James Horbury, while on holiday in the Isle of Man. In 1960, she left Ireland to begin her married life in Weybridge, Surrey, England, with her beloved Jim, with whom she shared 48 years of marriage. Colette raised her four children in Weybridge; Adelaide, South Australia; New Haven, CT; and Woodbridge, CT.

All those who knew Colette admired her quiet elegance and beauty. She loved music and played both the violin and the piano. Colette liked nothing more than to hold a baby and spend time with children and so was blessed to have nine grandchildren ranging in age from 23 years to just 2 ½ months. Each new baby brought her great joy, and she will be sadly missed by all whose life she touched.

Colette was predeceased by her husband James, as well as her sisters and their husbands, Claire (Dennis) Roberts and Angela (Michael) O’Gara. Colette was devoted to her four children, Damian and Eileen Horbury, of Bethany, CT, Catherine and Bo Piela, of Marblehead, MA, Peter and Genevieve Horbury, of Easton, CT, and Elizabeth and Michael Feld, of Exeter, NH. She leaves her loving twin brother and his wife, Seamus and Anne Dunne, of Wexford, Ireland, and her beloved grandchildren, Madeline and Meredith Piela, Sarah and James Horbury, Ethan and Selena Horbury, and Anna, Connor, and Evelyn Feld.

Colette maintained loving and close relationships with all of her overseas loved ones, frequently returning to Ireland, England, Scotland, and the Isle of Man, to visit her parents, sisters and brother, her husband’s family, and her many nieces and nephews. In her later years, she was particularly close to her niece Éilis O’Gara, of Dublin, Ireland, who made many trips to see her Aunty Colette in these last ten years. Finally, Colette leaves her best friend, Kathleen Herson, of Milford, CT. These two Irish women gave each other great happiness, and spoke almost weekly by phone until a few weeks before Colette’s passing.

Colette’s family thanks both the dedicated hospice nurses at Care Dimensions who visited and cared for Colette in her final days, as well as her Connecticut caregivers who helped Colette enjoy life in her final years at home. They also express their deepest gratitude to the devoted caregivers, nurses, and staff in the Reflections unit at the Residence of Vinnin Square, who gave Colette such comfort, joy, and love in the past year.

Friends and family are invited to call on Saturday, August 25, 2018 from 9 a.m. to 10:15 a.m. at the Cody-White Funeral Home, 107 Broad St., Milford, CT. A Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 11 a.m. at St. Agnes Church, 400 Merwin Ave., Milford, CT. Interment will follow at Eastside Cemetery, 157 South Pease Rd., Woodbridge, CT. If desired, memorial contributions may be made to the Alzheimer’s Association, 200 Executive Blvd., Suite 4B, Southington, CT 06489.

To send flowers to the family or plant a tree in memory of Bridget Colette Horbury, please visit our floral store.