Gay B. Mahder

Gay (Bradbury) Mahder, 89, a longtime resident of Wethersfield, passed away peacefully on Friday, November 26, 2021, at Covenant Village of Cromwell, where she had lived for the past 15 years. She was the beloved wife of John Mahder III, who predeceased her in 2006.

Gay was born May 24, 1932 in Hartford, daughter to the late Frank and Anna (Cook) Bradbury. She was raised in Wethersfield and graduated from Wethersfield High School, Class of 1950. Gay continued her education at the Hartford Hospital School of Nursing, where she earned her degree in Nursing as a member of the class of 1953. She began her career at Hartford Hospital as a Registered Nurse upon graduation and worked there until 1955, at which time she and John were blessed with the first of their three children. At that point, Gay decided to remain at home and raise her family, providing a wonderful upbringing and much love for her three sons.

Gay and John led full and meaningful lives, watching their sons grow and have families of their own. The family enjoyed many wonderful and happy years at their home on Smith Mountain Lake in Virginia, where family and friends made lifelong memories. Gay was a devoted member of Bethany Lutheran Church, West Hartford. She was also a charter member of Trinity Ecumenical Parish in Virginia, and a member of Bethany Covenant Church in Cromwell in her later years. She was involved in many volunteer activities, and remained interested in health care her entire life, chairing the health care committee at Covenant Living and leading a stroke support group.

Gay will be deeply missed and forever remembered by her loving family; three sons and daughters-in-law, John David and Peggy Mahder of Fairfield, Mark Alan and Lynn Kelly Mahder of Wethersfield, and Andrew Carl and Patty Mahder of Chapel Hill, NC; seven adored grandchildren, John Kevin and his wife Jacquelyn, Meghan Stuer and her husband Shaun, Katherine, Kelli, Kyle, Christopher and Stephanie; and three great-grandchildren, Sawyer, John Jameson and Charlotte. In addition to her husband and parents, Gay was pre-deceased by a brother, John Cook “Jack” Bradbury.

The Mahder family will receive relatives and friends at the D’Esopo Funeral Chapel, 277 Folly Brook Blvd., Wethersfield on Sunday, December 12 from 12-2 p.m. concluding with a celebration of Gay’s life, with Chaplain Richard Cudmore of Covenant Living of Cromwell officiating. Gay and John will be interred in Virginia at a later date. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations can be made to Lutheran World Relief, PO Box 17061, Baltimore, MD 21297-1061, online, lwr.org or to a charity of the donor’s choice. To share a memory of Gay with her family, please visit www.desopofuneralchapel.com